Public Protection Partnership Press Release – 02 August 2022
Taxi Fare Increase Takes Effect
Taxi Fares in West Berkshire have increased by a below inflation 8% after Councillors approved a request from the trade to help with rising fuel costs.
West Berkshire Council’s Executive agreed to consult on a new set of fees for taxis to help drivers to cover rising fuel costs. With fuel prices rising by around 35%, a consultation was held on 14-18 July to get views from local people on the proposed price increase which will see the maximum cost of a two mile journey during the day increase from £7.40 to £8.00
The Council reviews the tariffs every year. The current fees have been in place since November 2021 but due to the steep increase in fuel costs this year’s review is taking place a little earlier than planned. At the time the current fares came into operation petrol cost around £1.47 a litre and diesel £1.50 per litre. Since then the cost of fuel has increased to around £1.90 a litre for petrol and diesel around £2.00 per litre.
Councillor Tom Marino, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Internal Governance and Strategic Partnerships says, “I’d like to thank both the taxi trade and residents for their participation in the consultation. The taxi trade provide an invaluable service including our most vulnerable residents. We need to ensure that a balance is struck between ensuring that the taxi business remains economically viable in light of increasing costs while protecting the public from excessive fares, and I feel that the consultation has achieved that balance.”
As all objections to the increase in fares were withdrawn the revised tariffs came into effect on the 29 July 2022.
The fares do not apply to private hire vehicles which can only be pre-booked and are not allowed to pick up passengers from ranks nor can they be hailed in the street.
