Cab costs.

TAXIS don't seem to be the most popular form on transport on www.examiner.co.uk's forums.

The news from Kirklees Council that they intend to put up taxi firms' operating licences up by as much as 700% provoked fury from drivers.

Operator licences for firms with more than three cars will rise from pounds 53 to pounds 380.

Smaller cab companies will see their licences increase from pounds 53 to pounds 110.

Drivers will also be hit with the cost of renewing a taxi licence rising 62% from pounds 37 to pounds 60. A new driver's licence will go up from pounds 65 to pounds 85.

A council officers' report to cabinet says the price hike was necessary to bring Kirklees in line with the rest of West Yorkshire.

Despondent said: "Massive price hikes announced for taxi bosses.

"What's betting there will be [a] a traffic disrupting protest by taxis, [b] a lot of companies theoretically only running three cabs, [c] a climb-down by the council?" Idlejohn kept up the praise: "Long overdue as there are far too many taxi companies chasing too little business. No doubt they will be going round blowing horns and being a nuisance, but we are used to that are we not?" Markmyword49 seemed to be a little bit split on the question of Kirklees' cabs: "I noted that it wasn't just taxi licences but a range of licences to carry on a business. Are Kirklees perhaps trying to claw back some of the losses they are making from the reduction in planning applications caused by the credit crunch? "Perhaps Kirklees will use the extra funds to check the safety of many of these taxis if they are insured as private hire vehicles and if the drivers have passed a driving test? "Some hope! "I expect we'll get the chair of the appropriate committee writing the usual 'if you have proof show us' letter to the Examiner.

"I've yet to understand why there isn't an annual check on the legality of all private hire vehicles.

"As for a rise in rates that's inevitable.

However, if there is more than one passenger their current rates compare favourably with public transport."