TAXI drivers in Colchester have agreed to freeze their fares at least until the autumn of 2010.

Colchester Hackney Carriage Association members were balloted on whether they wanted to seek an increase of the price of trips.

Chairman Don Rhodes said the vote established the majority of its 130 members were against a price hike.

Mr Rhodes said the association had customers in mind when making the decision, adding it was about “solidarity”, as everyone faced the pinch.

He said: “All the taxi drivers were invited to vote on a price increase and we are freezing it until at least the autumn of next year. Then we will vote again.

“We cannot put customers at risk of not having enough money to be able to get home.

“Things are not good at the moment and if we put up prices, all it might do is push people into walking, or getting on the bus and we don’t want that.

“We hope people will see this as a bit of good news, especially in the current climate. It is in the interest of customer relations.”

He said it was the first time for a number of years there had been no increase.

Fares last rose last July, when the association successfully applied to Colchester Council’s licensing committee for an increase, citing rising insurance and maintenance costs.

Customers were charged an extra 20p for each journey, with distance rates rising by 30p for every 224 metres travelled, up to a maximum of 3,318 metres, and a further 30p for each subsequent 370 metres.

Mr Rhodes said drivers had voted against the price increase even though business was slow as a result of the recession.

They hoped the freeze would also prevent an increase in the amount of fare-dodging, he added.

“It is more prevalent than it used to be,” Mr Rhodes said.

“It won’t stop it, but it might prevent it getting worse.”

He hinted the fare freeze might continue into 2011 if the economy did not improve and drivers again, felt it was for the best.