THOUSANDS of taxi customers may face increased fares, if plans for York's entire hackney carriage fleet to be painted black go ahead.

Councillors are looking at a scheme to ensure all the city's 158 licensed hackney carriages have uniform black paintwork - which could lead to price hikes for customers.

Currently council conditions allow any colour of vehicle to be licensed as a hackney carriage, and also permit external advertising displays.

But the new plans would only allow taxis to display the council crest on the outside, with the words City Of York Hackney Carriage on both the nearside and offside door panels.

Taxi drivers will have to foot the cost of any changes - but this could result in fare hikes in the years ahead.

City of York Council has just set fare rates for 2008 with a rise of four per cent.

But taxi drivers have said that if they support the changes they may ask the council to share the costs with the customer.

Stuart Robertson, vice-chairman of York Taxi Association, said: "If we support the council in achieving these changes, which we understand and accept are good things for the city in general, then I think it is only fair that at some point we ask the council that this cost is shared with the public, rather than falling entirely on the taxi drivers."

The introduction of the new colour scheme for taxis would also mean any private hire cars would not be allowed to be black.

Existing black private hire vehicles would need to be re-sprayed a different colour.

The council also wants to impose tighter emissions controls for taxis, and restrict the age of cars used.

Judy Horwell, York Taxi Association's police liaison officer, said drivers had been consulted over the colour change.

She said: "We have been expecting this coming, but we certainly weren't expecting black as the colour.

"Black cars are in short supply as it is, and statistics show that if you have a black or dark vehicle you are more likely to be involved in an accident because it is less easily seen.

"If this has to happen we would prefer a lighter colour, such as silver or white.

"Drivers are also concerned about the hundreds of pounds they will have to pay out having their cabs re-sprayed black, because it's not just a case of going over the existing colour with a spray can.

"Advertising on the outside of cars forms a much-needed source of income for several drivers, and to stop this would present hardship to many."

In a report to go before the council's licensing committee on Tuesday, Richard Haswell, head of licensing, said: "A standard livery will make it easier for the public, particularly overseas visitors, to readily identify licensed vehicles which are regulated and safe.

"It will clearly differentiate between private hire vehicles and hackney carriages, and also between York taxis which can legitimately trade in the city, and those from outside which cannot.

"In addition to the above, a standard livery will improve the appearance of the fleet, and enhance the image of our city, which is the largest tourist destination in England outside London."

The chairman of York Private Hire Association, Barry Hamer, said: "I think this is going to be hard on hackney carriage drivers in particular.

"For private hire, it will be tough on those people who have got black vehicles, especially if they are a new plate and they wouldn't be buying a new car soon.

"There should have been a far longer period of consultation on this."

A city council spokeswoman said: "There are no proposals at present to increase taxi fares."

Timetable for hackney cab changes

  • September 1, 2007 - introduction of new livery. All vehicles presented in livery to be supplied with coat of arms.
  • From June 1, 2008 - all vehicles when presented for licensing for the first time will be in livery colours and will be supplied with the official coat of arms.
  • From June 1, 2009 - all vehicles when presented for relicensing will be in livery colours and be supplied with the official coat of arms.
  • In the event of the council issuing any new vehicle licences prior to June 1, 2008, those vehicles licensed will be in livery colours, and supplied with the official coat of arms.