Rushmoor proposes hackney carriage fare increase with new £1 digital booking surcharge
- Perry Richardson
- 23 hours ago
- 1 min read
Rushmoor Borough Council is consulting on proposed changes to its hackney carriage fare table that would increase metered tariffs across all four fare bands and introduce several additional charges, including a £1 fee for bookings made through telephone, radio, internet, email or app. The revised fares are scheduled to take effect by 1 September 2026, subject to the statutory consultation process.
Under the proposals, the daytime tariff would start at £3.60 for the first 972 yards, rising to £4.00 during evenings and weekends, £5.40 overnight and on bank holidays, and £7.20 during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Waiting time charges would also increase, ranging from 20p to 40p per 30-second period depending on the tariff in use.
The council is also proposing several additional charges. Drivers would be able to charge £1 for each passenger above five, £1 for journeys booked electronically or by telephone, and £1 where the journey starts or finishes outside the Rushmoor borough boundary. A further 20p surcharge could be applied when the Government’s published average weekly diesel price reaches £2 per litre. Total additional charges would be capped at £5 per journey.
The existing fouling charge would remain, allowing drivers to recover up to £100 where the interior of a vehicle is soiled to the extent that it is deemed unfit for further hire.
Anyone wishing to object to or comment on the proposed fare changes has until 2 August 2026 to submit written representations to Rushmoor Borough Council’s Licensing Manager. If confirmed following the consultation, the revised fare structure will come into force on 1 September 2026.
