Councillors have voted in agreement for an increase in taxi fares in the Scottish Borders.
The decision comes after they were told that refusing to do so could result in government intervention.
Scottish Borders Council reevaluates the price of taxi fares each year by taking into account new trends in the motoring industry, such as the the cost of vehicles, fuel and insurance.
In April, the council's executive committee decided that fares for the regions 111 taxi operators had to increase by 3.7%.
The rise in price would mean that a ten mile journey in a one-to-four person taxi will go up from £19.59 to £20.32, while a ten mile journey during 'anti-social hours' will rise from £24.49 to £25.40.
In anonymous feedback the public, both taxi users and drivers, expressed their disapproval.
Taxi drivers also expressed their concerns about the price change. One driver said that the out of hours fare, which adds 25% on any taxi fare after 10pm, needs changed:
Despite disagreement from the public, councillors have been told that if they refuse to accept the new fares the Scottish Government's traffic commissioner could intervene.
This happened in 2015, when taxi rates last went up and Scottish Borders Council tried to stop the fares from increasing.
The executive committee felt that their hands were tied and the increase of fares was accepted in a five to two vote.
