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Posted on the 21st July 2025 in PHTM News
STAFFORD BOROUGH TAXIS SET FOR FARE HIKE WITH FLAG FALL JUMPING FROM £3.10 TO £4
Taxi fares in Stafford Borough are poised for a significant increase, with the proposed starting rate for a standard journey jumping from £3.10 to £4.
This potential rise, initiated by a request from the taxi trade, gained initial approval from Stafford Borough Council cabinet members on Monday, July 7, to proceed with a public consultation.
If approved, the revised charges could come into force "as soon as possible, subject to any objections arising," according to a cabinet report.
The 90p increase on the starting rate would apply to journeys in vehicles carrying up to four people under the "normal charge" scheme. Higher starting charges would be implemented for larger vehicles, journeys between 12 am and 7 am, on bank holidays, or after 6 pm on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.
Councillor Rob Kenney, the council's deputy leader, highlighted the necessity of the fare adjustment at Monday's meeting. "The council last set fares in 2022," he explained. "Since then, there has been a significant and sustained increase in the price of fuel, cost of vehicles and operational costs, such as insurance and maintenance."
A fare comparison exercise with neighbouring authorities revealed that a two-mile journey under the proposed normal charge would be £7.40, positioning Stafford Borough at "144th out of 341 authorities" in terms of cost. Currently, at £6.50, Stafford Borough boasts the fourth cheapest two-mile taxi fare among 10 areas in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, and Wolverhampton.
However, the proposed £7.40 fare would make it the most expensive in that comparison. For context, the cheapest two-mile fare in the region is currently £5.20 in the Staffordshire Moorlands, where the last fare increase was in 2015, while Tamworth holds the current highest at £7.14, set in 2022.
The cabinet report also underscored the challenges facing the local taxi industry. "The local Hackney Carriage trade faces increasing competition from both locally-licensed private hire vehicles and, increasingly, from vehicles operated using Uber and other online platforms," it stated.
To maintain a robust local taxi trade, which largely requires wheelchair-accessible vehicles and a specific colour (currently white), the council aims to help proprietors "remain competitive but also to recover costs and make profit."
The number of licensed Hackney Carriages in the borough has seen a decline, with 57 currently licensed, a reduction of five since 2022 (8.06%). Similarly, licensed private hire vehicles have decreased from 101 to 95 over the same period, a reduction of 5.94%.
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