East Lothian Council considers latest taxi fare review which could see fares rise by 25%
- Perry Richardson
- May 3
- 1 min read
Updated: May 4
East Lothian Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on 8 May 2025 to review local taxi fares that could see a 25% fare increase if approved.
The process, which is required to take place at least every 18 months, has so far generated only two responses from local taxi operators.
The last fare adjustment was adopted in January 2024. To remain within legal timeframes, the current review began in March 2025. The consultation ran from 4 to 31 March, inviting comments and proposals from taxi trade representatives. Two proposals were received, both from the same operator.
Alongside the responses, the Licensing Team has reviewed fare levels across neighbouring local authorities. These include West Lothian, Midlothian, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Borders. Comparable journey costs have been calculated as part of the benchmarking process.
The Sub-Committee may choose to make no changes or implement adjustments. Should a new tariff be proposed, it will be advertised publicly before taking effect on 28 July 2025. This is to allow time for representations and potential appeals.
The Council confirmed there are no financial, personnel or policy implications from the review. It remains a legal requirement rather than a response to wider community or economic concerns.
Taxi drivers and operators have asked for the starting charge, otherwise known as the ‘flag fall’, to rise by over 5 per cent from £3.60 to £3.80 with waiting time and journey distance prices going up by 25 per cent from 24p to 30p and 48p to 60p at Christmas
