Wirral considers new taxi tariff for longer Hackney Carriage journeys heading out-of-area
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Wirral Council’s Regulatory and General Purposes Committee is reviewing a proposal to amend Hackney Carriage fares following a submission from Unite the Union, which represents local taxi drivers.
The union is calling for a fifth tariff to be introduced, applicable to journeys that finish at least four miles outside the borough. The proposed addition is in response to concerns from drivers about fare levels for longer journeys, which are currently covered under the same pricing structure as local trips.
Hackney Carriage fares in Wirral were last updated in February 2024. The current system includes four tariffs covering day, night, holiday and festive periods. The new proposal aims to better reflect the cost of longer-distance travel, something drivers argue is not adequately accounted for in the current model.
The council has compared the proposed fares with those set by other authorities in the Liverpool City Region and Ellesmere Port & Neston. This benchmarking will help inform the committee’s decision.
If approved, the proposed fare changes will be published in a local newspaper for public comment, as required by legislation. If no objections are received within 14 days, the changes will automatically take effect. If objections are made and not withdrawn, the matter will return to the committee for further consideration within two months.
The council acknowledges that fare levels must strike a balance between encouraging public use of Hackney Carriages and ensuring that drivers are fairly compensated. Too high a fare could drive passengers towards other transport options, while too low a rate may discourage drivers from offering services during less popular times.
Any approved changes would also require recalibration of meters in all licensed vehicles and the issue of new fare cards. This will be managed by the council’s Licensing Team within current resources.
