COUNCIL legal officers are to investigate whether a massive 1,400 per cent increase in the cost of transferring taxi plates in York could land the city authority in court.

Councillors yesterday considered a string of objections from angry private hire workers over increases to the costs of licensing themselves, their vehicles and their companies.

City of York Council's Labour group leader, Dave Merrett, said he feared increasing the cost of transferring a hackney carriage plate from £20 to £300 could attract legal action from drivers who feel it is unfair and disproportionate.

The restricted number of hackney carriage licences available in York means their value has soared among drivers. They can change hands for as much as £40,000.

A hackney carriage plate allows drivers to pick up passengers who flag them down in the street or from ranks in the city. Private hire drivers can only take pre-booked fares.

Coun Merrett said: "There seems to be a whacking great rise here. Does it relate to any real expense on our behalf or is the increase in other areas? It seems quite arbitrary."

Dick Haswell, the council's licensing officer, said the vast majority of fare increases are less than ten per cent. He said 87 objections were received from private hire employees, but none from hackney drivers. He said: "In recent years hackney carriage licences have changed hands for a considerable amount of money in the city.

"In relation to such figures a transfer fee of £300 does not seem unreasonable and will assist in maintaining increases for other licences to a minimum."

Councillors agreed officers should look into the legal position of the price hike.

Independent taxi drivers angered over a new dress code at York Station were due to protest this afternoon.

The drivers are unhappy at proposals by station owners GNER that would force them to wear a tie.

They planned to boycott the station and protest at the Eye of York.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, April 08, 2004