INFLATION-BUSTING price hikes in the cost of licences for taxi drivers and zoos have been approved by the Isle of Wight Council.
Despite receiving 98 objection letters from Island taxi drivers, 97 of which were identical, the authority’s licensing committee this week agreed to increase the cost of granting a driver’s licence from £58 to £100 — a rise of 72.4 per cent.
Furthermore, a hackney carriage vehicle licence will rise from £228 to £270 and a private hire vehicle licence from £210 to £270.
Private hire operators David and Jane Blake objected to the increases, claiming the 'outrageous’ new costs were a burden that should not be shouldered by struggling small businesses to fund a grossly inefficient council department.
Although the committee was assured the increases would only be used to cover costs rather than turn a profit, Cllr Paul Fuller admitted: "I think a lot of taxi drivers on the Island are just scraping by and that’s a concern to me.
"Perhaps we should get them together as a group and work with them."
The committee also agreed to increase the cost of granting a zoo licence from £774 to £1,360 — a rise of 75.7 per cent. The cost of renewing a licence will rise from £900 to £950.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk