A NIGHTCLUB boss personally challenged taxi drivers charging new higher tariffs outside her venue on one of the busiest nights of the year.

Chapel co-owner Amanda Newbery spent four hours overnight on Saturday directing her customers to drivers using Tariff 2 rather than the higher Tariff 3.

The new rates come after Wiltshire Council increased maximum fares in the city, with some drivers opting to cash in.

Amanda said: “That rate was what used to be reserved for New Year’s Eve. To charge the higher rate to unsuspecting customers is quite wrong.

“We had a member of staff who suddenly found her trip home cost more than her night’s pay.”

Some drivers objected strongly to Amanda’s approach and one complained to the police.

Inspector David Minty said: “I was approached by a taxi driver who told me he didn’t think it was correct and I advised him it wasn’t a police matter.

“All [Amanda] was doing was telling her punters which cars were charging the higher rate.”

Later on Sunday, more drivers agreed to revert to Tariff 2 for late nights, which matched the rate charged by what Amanda called “the responsible taxi firms”.

She said companies like Value Cars and On-Line City Cabs had led the way in showing what was right, adding: “A continued high fare will kill the late economy in this city. It is unfair on people who already have squeezed budgets.”

She said: “Some taxi drivers were simply profiteering on the back of a thoughtless rise in tariffs imposed by Wiltshire Council, making us the seventh highest for taxi fares in the country.”

Value Cars boss Scott Woodford and On-Line City Cabs manager Paul Humphries confirmed they would stick to the old tariffs.

Mr Woodford said: “In some cases they are almost double the fare they were originally.

“We weren’t in favour of increasing the tariffs and we told Wiltshire Council we were dead against it.

“Our concern is it’s going to scare away the night trade.”

He added: “I think it’s really good that businesses are working together to make sure everybody doesn’t get overcharged and has a good night.”

Mr Humphries said: “As a company, On-Line City Cabs were glad to see the majority of taxi drivers have also decided not to charge the new tariffs.

“As much as we want to give our customers the best value for money possible, we also want to work as part of a team with all the other drivers and show that taxi drivers in Salisbury do care about what the public think of us.”

Some firms will be offering fixed fares from Salisbury to destinations outside the city based on the lower rates.

It is believed taxi firm All The Sevens is also sticking to the old tariffs.

The council brought in the changes on May 7 in a bid to standardise fares across the county.

Until May 7 there were three rates in Salisbury: day, night, and Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Under the changes, there will be another higher rate for between 2.30am and 6am, and two more rates for journeys with more than four passengers.

The highest rate, Tariff 5, costs £6 minimum plus another £6 a mile after that, with a 60p per minute waiting time.