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[Vanda]

TAXI fares are set for a shock eight per cent rise in Gloucester – despite some drivers protesting that it would damage trade.
Gloucester City Council is to hike up the charges more than twice the rate of inflation, causing a rift between two different bodies representing cabbies.

The huge rises, which are set to come into force from February, will add £1.80 to trips of 10 miles or more at peak times.
Gloucester Hackney Carriage Association (GCHA), which represents 76 of the city's 137 drivers, has asked for the eight per cent rise following fears some members would be put out of business due to rocketing fuel and insurance.
But Associated Taxis, a private company which 33 hackney carriages belong to, has objected on the grounds the rise is "too much".
A spokesman for Associated Taxis said: "Our costs are out of control but if we accept rises this big, clients will reject it."
Derek McKeown, one of the groups' drivers, said: "I'm totally against the rise."
But that view was not shared elsewhere.
Zeya Amhed, chairman of the GCHA, said: "Our drivers have been asking for a rise and now is the right time.
"We agreed to a freeze in May 2011 and since then fuel has gone up, and insurance is up as much as 30 or 40 per cent.
"With the smaller journeys you're looking at 20p to 40p extra – bus and train fares have gone up a hell of a lot more."
Alan Wood, one of his drivers, said: "We forewent last year's rise, but can't do it any longer, we have no option but to say we need this rise."
Sheila Martins, 61, who uses taxis from her home in Longhope to get into town for shopping, said: "Eight per cent seems way too much to me."
Under the plan, journeys of up to two miles would go up by 20p, while trips of three to four miles will increase by 40p.
Five mile trips would rise by 60p between 7-9am, which is off peak, and 80p at any other time. The city council's licensing committee will make a decision on Tuesday - it meets from 6.30pm at North Warehouse.
Lisa Wilkes, licensing officer, said the figure came about after the GCHA asked for it.
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