Hackney Carriage taxi fares to go up after Cornwall Council agrees price hike

Cornwall Council has agreed to increase the maximum fares which can be charged by Hackney Carriage taxis, despite concerns that some customers might not be able to afford them.

Councillors agreed to a hike in fares after a request was made for an increase in North Cornwall. The last time rates for Hackney Carriage fares was set was November 2014.

A proposed set of new fares for North Cornwall – which includes Bodmin, Wadebridge, Padstow, Bude and Camelford – was published by Cornwall Council and issued to Hackney Carriage operators to comment on. Whilst many had no objections to the rate rises, others raised concerns.

The committee was reminded that the tariffs set by the council were only the maximum amount that could be charged and that drivers and operators were entitled to set their own lower rates if they choose to do so.

Under the new proposed rates for vehicles carrying four passengers of less the first 352 yards (two-tenths of a mile) will cost £4.20 from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and £5 between 7pm and 7am Monday to Saturday and from midnight to midnight on Sundays.

For each subsequent 176 yards (one-tenth of a mile) the charges are 30p and 40p for the relevant days and times. The previous rates were £3.20 and £3.80 for the first 352 yards and 20p and 25p for each subsequent 176 yards.

For vehicles carrying five passengers or more the first 352 yards (two-tenths of a mile) will cost £6.30 from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and £7.40 between 7pm and 7am Monday to Saturday and from midnight to midnight on Sundays.

For each subsequent 176 yards (one-tenth of a mile) the charges are 35p and 50p for the relevant days and times. The previous rates were £4.80 and £5.70 for the first 352 yards and 20p and 25p for each subsequent 176 yards.

The amount that drivers and operators can charge customers for soiling of the vehicles is also set to rise from a maximum of £65 to £150.

Whilst many drivers and operators had no objection to the new rates some were concerned.

Ken Ashton said: “With bus fares now £2.50 all day local and £5 all day outside area, over 25% increase is suicidal.”

And David Boulton added: “Frankly the increase is too steep. Of course I’d love to be able to be paid these kind of rates but the reality is that passengers will not pay these.

"In the event that this tariff is agreed then North Cornwall will become the fifth most expensive in the UK based on a national table of two-mile fares.”

Phil Wallis from Bayside Taxis said: “Yes the increase in the proposed taxi fares is needed to help cover our running costs but it might do us more harm than good as Bude is a very seasonal place so in quieter times where local people rely on taxis to take them out and about the proposed fare increase might be just too much which could have a detrimental effect on our business.”

However, Phil from Carbis Cabs said he agreed with the new charges: “It is certainly welcome and has been a while coming especially now.

"If people are objecting to the increase they need to be aware that the meter price is only the maximum charge and therefore if they want to charge less they can, so, in turn, an increase in the tariffs should not affect them in any way.”

The proposed new charges will now be published and people are invited to make comments in response to the changes. If there are any objections then they will go back to the miscellaneous licensing committee for consideration.

Councillors heard that revised charges are also set to be brought forward in the coming weeks for the Caradon area of South East Cornwall.

Credit: Local Democracy Reporter Service/Richard Whitehouse