ISLANDERS should not blame taxi drivers for the 4.5% rise in fares, according to a spokesman for the Taxi Owners’ Federation.

ISLANDERS should not blame taxi drivers for the 4.5% rise in fares, according to a spokesman for the Taxi Owners’ Federation.

Mike Mauger, of the federation, said it was based on an independent report and would not mean more money in the drivers’ pockets.

The rise, which has been approved by the Environment Department, is based on findings by the Halcrow Group, which was commissioned in 2003 to produce a report on taxi fares.

Its formula was centred around fares being made up of 40% direct costs and 60% income.

With islanders’ average income rising by 3.3% and direct costs increasing by 6.2%, 4.5% was the average of these two figures.

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ISLANDERS should not blame taxi drivers for the 4.5% rise in fares, according to a spokesman for the Taxi Owners’ Federation.

Mike Mauger, of the federation, said it was based on an independent report and would not mean more money in the drivers’ pockets.

The rise, which has been approved by the Environment Department, is based on findings by the Halcrow Group, which was commissioned in 2003 to produce a report on taxi fares.

Its formula was centred around fares being made up of 40% direct costs and 60% income.

With islanders’ average income rising by 3.3% and direct costs increasing by 6.2%, 4.5% was the average of these two figures

‘This is not a figure we have plucked out of the air,’ said Mr Mauger.

‘The taxi trade has no influence over this.

‘We are aware that the public are at liberty to talk with their feet. The public can make up their own mind. There’s a fine line between the level fares are set at and the number of people who use taxis.’

The direct costs include factors such as vehicle insurance, hire purchase interest charges and servicing, brakes and tyres.

‘We have for many years tried to get a formula put in place that was transparent and fair to all, so people can see where we are coming from,’ he said.

‘Halcrow looked at everything to do with the taxi trade and have come up with a fair formula for future fare application.’

The rise equates to an extra 30p on a journey from Town to the airport, which currently costs around £9.

Night-time taxi rates are 40% more than the day rate.

Mr Mauger said islanders’ income levels were used in the report, so drivers’ income would be kept in line with the average rise.

The majority of taxi drivers felt the increase was fair. In particular for those who were self-employed.

Martin Backlund-Leale has his own firm.

‘I think the rise is fair as we haven’t had one for two years,’ he said.

‘The States subsidise the bus fare. Why can’t they subsidise us? We are public transport.’

Self-employed driver John Driver felt the rise came at the right time.

‘I don’t think it will affect business much,’ he said.

‘I think we are going to get more business with the bus prices going up.’

One driver, who asked to remain anonymous, felt the fares should not have risen.

‘I think it will put people off using taxis,’ he said.

‘People will be disgruntled about it.

‘Maybe if I was self-employed I would think differently.’

A spokesperson for the Environment Department said it was unable to disclose the full findings of the report as some of the information was confidential.