THE taxi industry in Newquay fears it’s being “taken for a ride” following proposals being put forward by Cornwall Council.

Newquay Taxi and Private Hire Association believes there will be serious repercussions for drivers’ livelihoods and passengers if plans to remove the six Hackney Carriage ‘taxi zones’ and create a single taxi area for the whole of the county is introduced.

The group says the change would allow taxis from anywhere in Cornwall to operate in the town, which will lead to dozens of local taxi drivers’ jobs being under threat. They also warn passengers will end up having to pay higher fares with people in more rural areas finding it harder to get a taxi as drivers will gravitate to busier areas.

But Cornwall Council states removing the taxi zones, which currently exist in the former district and borough council areas of Restormel, Penwith, Kerrier, Carrick, North Cornwall and Caradon, will make things “simpler for passengers, improve taxi availability and customer choice as well as create a fairer and more efficient system.”

The unitary authority wants to create one single taxi area for all of Cornwall following the government introducing taxi and private hire vehicle licensing best practice.

Nick Morris, the treasurer of Newquay Taxi and Private Hire Association, said: “The council plan will increase Newquay fares by about 25 per cent if the meters were harmonised across the county.

“It will give us another hit to our wages which could cause even more drivers to get a second job as we already have a lot of part time drivers. I believe 200 taxi driver jobs in the Newquay area could be lost is this goes through.

“It will make taxis harder to find and far more expensive in outlying rural areas as everyone would want to be in the big towns.”

Luke Daniels, the owner of Pat’s Cabs in Newquay, said: “Taxi associations across Cornwall are against the proposal.

“The reason for introducing a single taxi area for the entirety of Cornwall is easy to refute. “People will struggle with taxi availability as drivers will go to busier areas to work.

“During Boardmasters any taxi driver in the county will be able to pick up fares in Newquay so that’s where they will go.

“It will be the same during Falmouth Week, which will result in no one else being able to get a taxi anywhere else.

“The reason the council gives for the plan is that it will give more taxi availability for the customer, but it will do the opposite. Few taxi drivers are going to wait for customers in their own areas if they have the freedom to work anywhere in Cornwall.

“Falmouth Taxi Association is against the proposal and has asked for our feedback.”

Newquay Taxi and Private Hire Association is encouraging residents to support their local drivers and take part in the council’s consultation before any final decisions are made.

Cornwall Council's consultation can be found at letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/taxi-zones