MORE than a third of licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers in Ryedale have objected to plans to increase licence fees by ten per cent.

Councillors will be asked to decide whether to recommend that the proposed fees and charges for 2009/10 are amended, after 41 drivers wrote to Ryedale District Council opposing the rises.

One of the letters says: “I strongly feel that in the current economic climate it would not only cause great hardship to some fee payers but could force some out of business.”

Another says: “I cannot afford to pay more for a licence since the recent economic crisis. And this would put me under great pressure financially, as my husband has already had his hours cut due to the financial climate.”

Malton-based Ryedale Taxis wrote: “To actively increase costs above reasonable levels will only serve to put taxi companies out of business as they struggle to meet increasing demands.

“We already compete against York firms whose fees are half, and in some cases a third, of what we currently pay.

“It would not be sensible to price out present taxi services which provide integration into the present transport network and are a lifeline to the rural community.”

Beckie Bennett, Streetscene manager at the council, which is aiming to make its taxi licensing service pay for itself, said: “What the council is trying to do through its policy is to balance the cost of providing a statutory service at a minimal cost to the council taxpayer.”

Since 2005/06, when the authority adopted the policy, licence fees have increased by at least 15 per cent each year in a bid to make the taxi licensing service “cost-neutral”. She said: “In light of the recession members may wish to consider the policy. But the evidence is we haven’t seen a decline in the number of licences that we’re issuing.”

Ms Bennett said last year a “member task group” met at least twice to look at the fees and charges, and representatives of the taxi trade were invited to attend all the meetings.

“The task group did also agree to look at the fees and charges again in the summer, so it’s an ongoing piece of work,” she said.

Drivers must have a licence for their vehicle, which currently costs £334 a year.

Under the proposals, the licence would cost £367.40 a year.

The councillors will also be asked to decide whether to recommend a change to the policy.