COST OF LIVING: Long-distance taxi fares set to rise 23% in Lancaster to help cabbies cover costs

New taxi tariffs agreed by Lancaster City Council could see long-distance fares rise by 23% following consultation with cabbies and businesses.

Like many other licensing authorities, Lancaster City Council (LCC) has raised licensed taxi tariffs after nationwide industry concerns over the rapid increase in fuel prices and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Members of LLC Licensing Committee considered four tariff options. The council listed the advantages, disadvantages and risks associated with each both in terms of public perception and how it would affect the licensed trade at a time of increased fuel costs and rising cost of living.

Members considered the consultation responses and the preferred tariff of the licensed trade and recommended that option 2 was approved as the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff for the year, along with commitment to an annual review of the tariff by way of application of retail price index (RPI) to both flag fall and rolling rate, rounding down figures to the nearest 5p.

The new taxi tariffs represent a unique sliding scale of rises. The price increases for short one or two-mile journeys are less than the increases for long 10 or 20-mile distances.

Changes include a new starting daytime hiring charge of £3 for taxi journeys up to 880 yards in distance, with additional 20p tariffs for every extra 176 yards or 40 seconds of waiting time.

According to a LCC Cabinet report this means, a one-mile journey will cost £6, a two-mile journey will cost £9, a three-mile journey £12, a four-mile journey £15, a five-mile journey £18, a 10-mile journey will be £33 and a 20-mile journey will cost passengers £63.

The price rises represent a 9% rise for a one-mile journey and almost a 14% rise for a two-mile journey. For longer journeys, a 20-mile tariff will rise by 23%.

New late-night and festive season tariffs have also been agreed and there will also be a 20p fee for extra passengers and extra luggage. Customers could now face a £75 soiling charge should they make a mess of the vehicle too.