Posted on the 6th November 2025 in PHTM News
MIDLOTHIAN TAXI FARE HIKE HALTED AFTER APPEAL TO UK TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER
Taxi fare increases of up to 20 per cent approved by Midlothian councillors have been suspended after local operators filed an appeal with the UK Government Traffic Commissioner.
Midlothian councillors agreed to introduce the new tariffs in September following a long-overdue review.
However, a report due this week revealed an ‘unintentional error’ in the new scale: waiting time charges were inadvertently changed from 50p per minute (every 30 seconds) to 30p per minute (every 60 seconds), effectively reducing the rate.
Members of the General Purposes Committee met on 4 November to address the error but were informed that the issue was now out of their control.
Derek Oliver of the council told the meeting: “There has been an appeal submitted to the traffic commissioner from the taxi core with regards to the new tariffs set by Midlothian Council. The traffic commissioner has notified us that it is in effect suspending the fare scale as published by the council.”
The proposed new fares would have seen the initial day hire charge rise from £3 to £3.50, and the evening charge increase from £3.80 to £4.50 and festive holiday rates going from £4.50 to £5.
Additional distance and time charges were set to increase by 20%, from 25p to 30p, across all tariffs except at Christmas holidays when it remains at 40p.
A spokesperson for the traffic commissioner’s office confirmed that an appeal had been lodged by three Midlothian taxi operators.
They stated: “The council has been given until November 17 to respond to the appeals.”
The council currently licenses 25 out of 52 available taxi plates, alongside 140 private hire cars.
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