Taxi fares are set to increase in Ceredigion as drivers battle against rising fuel costs.

The Tivy-side Advertiser reports that Ceredigion County Council’s cabinet approved a proposal to increase taxi fares at a rate set by the taxi trade - a slightly lower rate increase was suggested by licensing officers – bringing the cost of a two-mile journey to £6.80 from £5.46.

Similar journeys in Carmarthenshire cost £6.80, in Pembrokeshire £6.30 and in Powys £6, although increases are pending, a cabinet report notes.

The taxi fares have not increased since 2018 when the average cost of unleaded petrol in the UK was £1.20 a litre and diesel £1.23, a report to cabinet states. 

Proposals to increase taxi fares were made in February following a taxi trade meeting with increases to fares, tariffs and charges outlined and then consulted on within the trade.

“It is evident that several factors have affected the taxi trade in recent years, which has resulted in the request to vary the current fares including the Coronavirus pandemic, increases in the prices of secondhand cars, increases in the cost of living, an increase in the minimum wage, increases in insurance costs but the increase in fuel prices is the largest reason for a request to vary the fares,” adds the cabinet report.

An extra 5p per 1/10th of a mile on all tariffs will be imposed, and cabinet heard that the officer proposals had a lightly lower increase and lower associated charges for things such as waiting time, carrying cases, trunks and fouling “not linked to fuel increases.”

Cabinet approved the increases, subject to a statutory 14-day publication and consultation period where any objections can be raised.

Source: https://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/20257007.proposal-increase-taxi-fares-approved-ceredigion/

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