TAXI fares will not rise in the run-up to Christmas, after a proposal for a ten per cent price hike was ditched.

The rise plan was put forward at the latest licensing meeting with the recommendation it go out to public consultation.

But, opposition Tories outnumbered members of the ruling administration and the proposal was turned down.

Conservatives said it was a victory for taxi users who already pay enough, but cabbies have said with the cost of living on the rise, it’s only right fares go up as well.

Josh Hunter, office manager at Doones Taxis, said: “It’s common sense really. Over the last few years fuel has gone up, mechanics cost more. The cost of living has gone up, but we’re earning the same money.

"It seems ridiculous. Fuel has gone up 30 per cent in three years. If we’d done that we’d be fine, but we haven’t. The minimum wage has gone up, our tariffs are our wage.”

Tory councillor Mark Reed said: “When we stripped the figures apart we couldn’t believe the increases the taxi trade wanted to bring in before Christmas.

“We had been told the cost of driving had risen, whereas independent figures we found showed that was not the case.”