Taxi fares in Caerphilly County Borough could increase for the first time in eight years, a report has revealed.
Caerphilly Council is considering a 40p hike – an average fare rise of 13 % – for all hackney carriage journeys.
This would mean the starting meter cost for journeys taken between 7am to 7pm will cost £3.40 – up from £3 – and 20p for each subsequent mile.
The same journey taken between 7pm and 7am will cost £3.90 – up from £3.50 – and the same charge per subsequent mile.
Members of the council’s taxi and general committee are due to discuss the changes at a meeting on Thursday, June 21.
The Caerphilly County Borough Taxi Drivers Association has given its backing to any potential rise.
Chairman Christopher Bundy said: “At the end of the day, the majority realise it is a situation where we have to have a rise. Everything is going up, such as diesel.
“Mot costs for us are also in the region of around £200 compared with around £35 to £40 for the public.”
A consultation amongst members of the Caerphilly taxi trade drew 97 responses, with almost half – 47.4% – voting in favour of the council’s tariff increase.
The proposed times of operation are also a change from the existing 6am to midnight and vice-versa.
A report due to be presented at the commttee reads: “This provides the trade with the opportunity of increased income with the second tariff commencing at 7pm as opposed to midnight.
“A number of responses suggested that the change of tariff should be 6am to 6pm, however it is believed that this could have a detrimental impact upon the number of passenger who use taxis to get to and from work.”
But eight consultees aren’t onboard with the council’s ideas, with one fearing that the increase would lead to lost custom.
Two-mile fares in Caerphilly are tied with Torfaen as the third lowest in Wales, with the table propped up by Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent.
Currently the authority is the 338th cheapest area for a two-mile taxi trip out of 370 local authorities in England and Wales.
But if the 13% increase is approved, Caerphilly would move up to 258th in the national fare tables.
In such a rural area we depend on public transport to get us from A to B, so any price hike will effect a large amonut of people, who are already feeling the pinch.
With goverment trying to reduce air pollution and saying they want people to make more use of public transport,this is not a good move and will have the opposite effect.
People in rural areas should think about buying pony & trap,
Thats a very derogatory comment to people living in the country.
It was the done thing years ago and
very trendy.
It was OK years ago, and a very trendy thing today to have to get around.