TAXI drivers angry at council plans to increase their fees are to meet next week to decide whether to strike.

Private hire cab drivers are threatening industrial action after Blackburn with Darwen Council put up many costs by twice the rate of inflation and more than doubled fees for some operators, despite calls by drivers for more consultation.

Mohammed Nawaz Khan, chairman of Blackburn Private Hire Taxis Association, which represents more than 30 cab firms in the borough, said his members were unhappy the council had proceeded with the increases despite calls for further discussion.

Mr Khan said: "The operators are appalled by it, and we have arranged a meeting where we will decide what steps to take. Two years ago the council doubled our fees and now it's happening again." He said operators would be meeting next Tuesday night to decide their next step.

Mr Khan's comments followed a meeting of the executive committee in which Labour council chiefs agreed to an increase of many fees by 5.5 per cent, three per cent above inflation. But operators' greatest concern is the change in the way they are charged depending on the number of cars they have working for them.

Mohammed Khan said although a 'one man band' operation will see a reduction in annual fees of£34 next year, larger companies will face stiff rises which some fear could result in higher costs for travellers.

A firm with 16 to 30 vehicles paying £475 per year will see their costs jump £505 to £840. Firms paying the previous highest fee of £692 for more than 31 vehicles will also see sharp jumps, with 31-35 vehicles costing £1,140, and those with 51-55 taxis paying £1,590.

About 15 private hire operators in the borough have between 26-30 vehicles, and could see their fees almost doubling.

But Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for citizens rights and consumer affairs, told the executive committee this pricing option was the cheaper alternative and would bring in less money to the council.

But the increases were opposed by Conservative and Liberal Democrats who voted against the rise. Coun Paul Browne said: "With insurance costs going up, plus higher fuel prices, then at the end of the day these rises will be passed on to Joe Public because a lot of these taxi firms can only stand so much."