SOUTH Lakes taxi drivers have until February 27 to respond to proposals to reduce their maximum fares on public holidays.

Among the proposed changes to hackney carriage tariffs being considered by South Lakeland District Council licensing bosses is a reduction to the previous rate of double time on bank holidays.

With the exception of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – where double time would still apply – the maximum fare would amount to time and a half.

Sarah Ibbetson, a driver for Windermere Taxis, said she would be opposing the change, saying: “I don’t think it’s possible to earn a decent living at less than double time on bank holidays.

“On a bank holiday I finish up with about the same money but I’ve only done half the jobs because of the amount of time spent sitting in traffic.

“Having a maximum fare doesn’t mean all taxi drivers have to charge that amount – if they want to charge less they can.”

Hardeep Burnley, licensing officer for SLDC, said the fact that objections had been received from some taxi drivers meant the proposals would be reviewed prior to a meeting of the licensing committee.

“This is a period of consultation and during that time we will fully consider all objections,” she said.