South Somerset taxi tariffs set to rise nearly 17% as fuel crisis concerns council

A taxi tariff increase of nearly 17 per cent has been proposed in the South Somerset District to help taxi drivers fight against rising fuel costs and the cost of living crisis.

South Somerset District Council (SSDC) will launch a consultation detailing the planned changes which could see the district go from offering the cheapest taxi fares in the area to the most expensive.

SSDC taxi tariffs currently sit at £6.50 for a two-mile journey, 30p cheaper than neighbouring local authorities Mendip, Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton. If the new proposed tariff is approved, SSDC taxi fares will rise £1.10 to £7.60 for the same two-mile journey.

If approved by the council, the tariff changes would be the first increase in the area since 2016. Neighbours Mendip and Sedgemoor reviewed their fares in 2019, and Somerset West & Taunton last made changes in December 2021.

According to Somerset Live, Councillor Martin Wale said: "We're in a real pickle here with the rising cost of petrol, which we all know about, and keeping the fares down for the public who can only use cabs and haven't got cars. In my opinion, for the sake of keeping cabs on the road and servicing the public, this has got to be done sooner rather than later."