Posted on the 21st August 2025 in PHTM News

WILTSHIRE TAXI DRIVERS INSULTED BY 3P PAY RISE DECISION

Taxi drivers in Wiltshire are calling a recent 3p pay increase "an insult" that they say will drive people out of the industry. The decision, made by Wiltshire Council, will raise the maximum fares for hackney carriages from September 1.

The new fare structure will see an increase from 22p to 25p per tenth of a mile for Tariff 1, which covers vehicles with up to four seats from 7am to 9:59pm

Fares for vehicles with more than four seats will increase by 4p per tenth of a mile. However, there will be no fare increase for night journeys, Sundays, or public holidays.

According to long-serving drivers based at Chippenham Railway Station, the small increase is a "shambles" in the face of rising costs. "It may look good at 13.6 per cent, but when you look at the numbers it’s 3p and 4p," said driver Vivienne Pepler.

"The council doesn’t understand the cost of keeping a vehicle on the road, the price of parts, MoTs, and services have all gone up."

Russell Gibbings, another driver, called the new tariffs "a massive pay cut" in real terms. "That is the first pay rise we’ve had in years, with the cost of living it’s an embarrassing amount and an insult," he stated. Gibbings noted that the council "dictates to us how much money we can charge and earn... even if my bills double, I can’t charge more."

Many drivers said they were not aware of the council's consultation on the changes, which mark the first fare increase since 2022.

Both Pepler and Gibbings expressed concern that the low earnings and high operating costs will force drivers to leave the profession. "I’m getting to the point where I wonder why I bother," said Pepler.

Gibbings, who has already reduced his fleet from five taxis to three, said he is "considering going down to one because of the cost." He added that "the salary isn’t there, I’ve been working taxis for 20 years and have had a pay rise of £1 in that time."

In response, Cllr Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, said an annual fare review and consultation were conducted. "While individual feedback varied, 81 per cent of respondents supported the proposal," he said.

Smith claimed that legal notices were published in local newspapers and that the proposal received "minimal attendance from drivers" during a review by the Licensing Committee.


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