Posted on the 12th March 2025 in PHTM News

LEWES AND EASTBOURNE TAXI DRIVERS THREATEN EXODUS OVER 60 PER CENT FEES HIKE

Taxi drivers in Lewes and Eastbourne are facing a potential mass exodus as newly implemented licensing fees, some soaring by 66%, threaten to cripple their livelihoods.

The hackney fleet is already in decline with drivers now numbering just 89, compared to the influx of private hire drivers, primarily due to services such as Uber.

The Unite union, representing drivers in the region, warns that the drastic increases, imposed by Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council, could force many to abandon the industry.

James Kiernan, a veteran Lewes taxi driver and union representative, expressed deep concern over the financial strain.

"We've certainly got a handful of drivers that I know of who are already looking for work before their licences run out," he stated, highlighting the immediate impact of the new charges.

The decision to make the huge increases, made at a full council meeting on 4 March, will see the cost of a three-year hackney carriage/private hire/dual driver’s licence rise to £472.50 (from £315) sparking outrage among drivers already burdened by rising costs.

An annual hackney/private hire vehicle licence will cost £308 (from £205), while fees for various tests will also increase drastically, such as the English language test retake fee which has surged by 66%, from £68.25 to £113.20.

Adding to the drivers' frustration is the fact that customer fares have remained stagnant since 2021. "Drivers applied to the councils for a fare increase last summer but said they were still waiting for the council to launch a public consultation into any proposed changes," Kiernan explained.

This disparity between rising costs and frozen fares is exacerbating the financial burden on drivers.

The councils, in a joint statement, defended the increases, citing "budget pressures related to taxis in our roles as licensing authorities, and to cover the increased operational costs associated with CCTV data control."

They also highlighted the need to "fund extra resources to reduce a backlog in new applications, ensuring a more efficient service for the future" specifically in Lewes District.

However, Kiernan remains sceptical, demanding transparency and accountability. "The department needs to explain itself as to why it costs so much to run that department, because it's a lot of money. We would like to see it audited," he asserted.

He also raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable residents, warning: "Vulnerable people won't be able to get a taxi, won't be able to get their lifts to the shops, to the town, to stations."

The drivers also feel particularly hard hit as they recently had to spend approximately £700 to install mandatory CCTV in their vehicles. The rapid succession of large cost increases, without any compensation, is pushing many to the brink.

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