Taxi fares in East Lothian are facing a potential hike of up to 25% as operators grapple with increased financial pressures.
Licensing chiefs are set to review the current tariff next week following a request from taxi firms citing rising National Insurance contributions and the increase in the living wage.
Operators have proposed an initial fare increase of over 5%, from £3.60 to £3.80. Significantly steeper rises are being sought for waiting time and journey fees, potentially jumping by 25% from 24p to 30p, and from 48p to 60p during the Christmas period.
Ian Torrance, representing Torrance Taxis, presented the case for the new tariffs, stating the proposal was put forward “taking into account all additional cost such as living wage increase, National Insurance increase, no doubt an increase in taxi tests, taxi licence for which we pay for also, medical stress tests when required at a cost of £500.”
He further emphasised the escalating costs of vehicle replacement, noting: “Replacement of vehicles are now costing an additional £20,000.”
While a report to the licensing sub-committee indicates that any approved fare changes would take effect at the end of July, it also reminds members that they are not obligated to implement any increases.
The report compared current East Lothian fares with neighboring authorities, revealing that only Edinburgh currently charges more for taxi journeys. For instance, a five-mile trip with five minutes of waiting time is estimated to cost £18.96 in East Lothian, compared to £20.03 in Edinburgh, £17 in Midlothian, £14.40 in West Lothian, and £15.60 in the Scottish Borders.
Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a 47-year-old Hertfordshire taxi driver, Jesbir Singh Khela, whose body was discovered in a burnt-out car earlier this year.
The initiative, which also saw council licensing officers checking the condition and compliance of taxis, has been hailed a success by both authorities.
Aaron Johnson received his sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, 25 April, having pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and possession of a knife in a public place.
The launch follows an onboarding process that began last month at Lomeshaye Business Park in Nelson, where hundreds of local drivers were expected to register for both the Pendle and Blackburn areas.
Hussain further compounded his crimes by offering one of his victims £6,000 to drop her complaint, a charge to which he later pleaded guilty.
Phillipe Brooks, 58, admitted to driving with 7.7 micrograms of cannabis per litre of blood in his system, exceeding the legal limit of 2mg.
One driver, Tony, who has worked in the area for nearly 40 years, claims he faces a near 10-week wait after his licence expired in April.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1 pm on Sunday, 27 April, in Sandgate, near the Greenbridge Roundabout.
A joint operation by Police Scotland and Highland Council's trading standards team in Inverness city centre on Friday, 25 April, saw roadside checks conducted on 30 taxi and private hire vehicles.
The move follows an "Unmet Demand Survey" which highlighted longer passenger wait times compared to pre-pandemic levels and continued difficulties for disabled users, particularly wheelchair users.
Private hire drivers across the Uk and globally are staging a 24-hour strike today, 1 May, in an effort to demand better pay, improved working conditions and protections for gig economy workers.
Operation Recordings, carried out by Chester Beat Management Team and the Special Constabulary, was established in a bid to ensure taxis were safe, correctly licensed and compliant with their regulations.
Drivers fear the move is a "backdoor route" to scrapping local fare zones, ultimately pushing drivers towards more profitable urban areas and leaving rural communities behind.
Smith "refused to get out of the taxi" and was "threatening to the driver and threatening to smash his face in." When police arrived, Smith continued his aggressive behaviour.
Macclesfield Local Policing Unit joined forces with Cheshire East Council in an operation designed keep people safe.
This move by South Staffordshire Council's licensing committee aims to bolster safety following a worrying spate of assaults on taxi drivers in the region.
From Thursday 1 May, we will be introducing cash as a payment option for riders and we will be letting you decide if you want to take cash trips.
The man, in his 50s, pleaded guilty at a pre-trial hearing on December 11, 2024, to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm following the incident on May 12, 2024.
Talal Bin Mumtaz Raja, from Reading, was found guilty of four offences at Reading Magistrates' Court on April 7, 2025.
Drug-fuelled Ellis Gardiner pressed a knife into the face of one driver, drawing blood, and robbed another of £50 after brandishing a screwdriver at him.