Montrose operator Neil Gibson of Lorimer Cabs says rising diesel has added about £3,000 a month to his fuel bill and is threatening to take his fleet off the road unless Angus Council acts.
In The Courier (29 September 2026) Gibson said the “unsustainable” spike wiped out the benefit of a fares increase councillors approved earlier in the year, after a long delay to the previous review. Diesel was over £2 a litre. He estimated the firm was “working four days of the month with no return.”
He wants an early tariff review or a temporary fuel surcharge, citing Blackpool’s automatic £1.20 add-on when diesel hits £1.95 a litre; North Devon’s weekly use of government fuel data; and Sheffield’s one-off temporary surcharge outside a full fares review. He offered to supply the council with data.
Gibson also said two council taxi working groups over seven or eight years had never met the trade except on wheelchair-accessible vehicle provision.
An Angus Council spokesperson said he had contacted licensing officers, who were reviewing the information he provided.