FALLING numbers of people going out in the evenings has caused irreversible damage to the taxi trade, it is feared.

Many taxi drivers are taking second jobs or getting out of the business altogether because it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living, it is claimed.

And Ashley Miller, chair of the Bournemouth Taxi and Private Hire Joint Committee, said he cannot see the situation improving in the near future.

“It’s really quiet at the moment,” he said. “You can put that down to the credit crunch but really problems go back to New Year’s Eve 1999 when many people opted to celebrate at home rather than pay lots of money to go to a bar or club.

“People partied at home and liked it and the trend has continued. Then there was the smoking ban which has made things even worse.

“I don’t think the taxi trade will ever recover. Bournemouth is being served by around 650 Hackney and private hire cabs which is a lot more than even a big major city needs.”

Mr Miller used to have eight Hackney vehicles but said that by the New Year, he would have only have the one that he drives himself.

“Each vehicle was losing me about £400 each week,” he said. “You cannot carry on like that.

“A lot of drivers have left the business altogether but there are other drivers, particularly foreign ones, who are working more than 15 hours a day, seven days a week to try and make a living.”

Derek Heritage, marketing director at United Taxis, said: “We’ve noticed a downturn, not so much during the day but definitely at nights.

“I think the smoking ban has had an effect and people are just conscious of money and whether they are going to have a job next year.

“We’ve noticed students are being much more careful too because of student fees.”

But he said he did not think fares were too high: “Taxis are expensive for one person but not between three or four people.” And Mark Smith, director at Streamline Warrens agreed: “We’ve had very sedate rises in the past couple of years and our taxi fares are not too bad nationally – they are mid-range.

“There has been a downturn this year but it’s not been as bad as I feared. I thought we would be 15 to 20 per cent down but it’s actually about five.”

Taxi drivers waiting outside Bournemouth railway station broadly agreed with Mr Miller.

Jeremy Everingham, 42, said: “I think the night time (trade) is suffering especially during the week. It’s just the last few months. I think it is the recession.”

A 43-year-old taxi driver said: “It’s rubbish. Personally I think it’s the economy and the night buses taking a lot of our business. I have to work longer hours for a fraction of the money.”

Bill Whiston, 53, said: “It’s quiet. I don’t know if it’s just the economic situation. You have good days and bad days but it’s a significant drop.”

Robert Fung, 43, said that big firms like Nationwide and LV no longer send as many staff down from London as many have been made redundant which impacts on the taxi trade.

“It’s the recession. It’s coming down from business. We are seeing less day work,” he said.

• THERE are three different taxi fare tariffs in Bournemouth. The day rate, which is in operation from 6.30am to midnight, is £3.59 for the first mile and £1.90 for every additional mile.

• The unsocial hours fare is £4.79 for the first mile and £2.54 for every additional mile and the fare for Christmas and New Year is £5.39 for the first mile and £2.85 for every additional mile.

• The average taxi journey in Bournemouth is 2.5 miles so for one person, this would cost £6.60 at day rate, £8.75 at the unsocial hours rate and £9.90 at Christmas and New Year.

• In Poole, the day rate is a £2 initial charge, plus 20p per person, then around £1.92 a mile.

• Unsocial hours in Poole carry a £2.25 initial charge, plus 25p per person, then around £2.56 a mile.

• A taxi in Poole at Christmas and New Year carries a £3 initial charge, plus 25p per person, then around £1.92 per mile.

• As a comparison, Brighton taxis cost £3.60 for the first mile and £2 for each subsequent mile.