Exeter taxi drivers threatened over soaring fares

The increase in fares has been blamed on long detours around the city's controversial Active Streets trial area

Taxi drivers in Exeter say they have been threatened by passengers angry about soaring fares.

The increase has been blamed on long detours around the city's controversial Active Streets trial area.

Some refuse to pay fares while others are trying to get drivers to defy the law and go through the roadblocks.

Devon County Council said the aim of the trial was to "create a safer and more attractive environment for people walking, wheeling and cycling".

A concession has now been offered to the taxi trade which will allow them to use the bus gates from 9 November.

The trial is in place for a maximum of 18 months after which the roadblocks will be removed or made permanent

One protester said their fare to get from one point in the low-traffic area to another had trebled as the taxi had to take a lengthy diversion around the perimeter of the trial zone.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said private hire vehicle operators are having to pay drivers for extra hours because the trial has caused more congestion.

They are having to reduce the number of jobs they can do, particularly during peak times, meaning longer waits for passengers.

Emergency services said there had not been any serious problems but they pointed out that "increased traffic on boundary roads could delay responses".

Disability groups said the trial had made journeys longer and there were concerns over the amount of time carers could spend with patients due to increased delays.

The trial is in place for a maximum of 18 months, giving a potential end date of December 2024, after which the roadblocks would be removed or made permanent.