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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Robert Dalling

'It's tough, it's really tough': The taxi drivers who survived Covid lockdowns now pummelled by fuel price rises

Taxi drivers have described the difficulties they are facing as a result of the huge rise in the price of fuel.

Prices of petrol and diesel have hit record highs as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to hit oil prices globally.

According to the RAC, at present, drivers are having to fork out, on average, 155.62 pence per litre of unleaded petrol, 161.28 pence per litre of diesel, and 167.28 pence per litre of super unleaded, with warnings that they are all "likely to rise". Some prices seen in Wales are much higher still.

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Owner of Swift Cabs in Carmarthen, Thomas Carpenter, described how he felt the current petrol prices "should be illegal."

"It's tough - it's really tough," he said.

"It is eating into my money, it's ridiculous, the prices - it's shocking - it should be illegal.

"I'm struggling, I have just bought the company and I don't know how long I'm going to last. It is a cashflow issue, people don't want to pay the prices. The council has upped our tariff, but literally by pennies. They haven't raised it enough.

"I would say we're paying an extra £150 between both cars at the moment than we usually would. It feels like another blow (after Covid). There's something not right about it. It is just one spin off after another.

"There needs to be a cap on fuel going forward so that it can't raise any higher than it already is. I don't really know how they're going to sort it. Maybe stop stabbing each other in the back, it's all politics."

A year ago, the average petrol price stood at 122.50p a litre, while diesel was at 125.99p.

If petrol reaches the 160p threshold, on average, it will take the cost of filling up a typical family car with a 55-litre tank to a whopping £88.

Gemma Wray, of S&G Taxis, based in Stebonheath Terrace, Llanelli, said the issue had caused a "big impact" on the company.

"We go through quite a bit of fuel to keep two taxis and two minibuses running every day," she said.

"It's had a big impact on us as a company. On average, it is costing us £100 to fill each car, and we are filling them about two, three times a week, depending on the mileage we're doing. Then you've got the minibuses, one of which is on the school run, which costs a lot to keep refuelling.

"I think there has been a bit of a panic where people thought there was going to be a shortage of fuel as well, so that was a bit worrying. We have got to keep operating no matter what."

Owner of JT Taxis in Swansea, Jason Thomas, added: "It's expensive at the minute. You just have to get on with it really. We're probably spending about £20 a week more."

The RAC has said that since February 13, there have been almost daily records being set for fuel prices as the threat of war in Ukraine loomed.

These have contributed to a cost of living surge in the UK and helped to push inflation to a 30-year high.

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