The Highland Council agrees taxi fares hike
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PROPOSALS to increase the maximum price taxi firms can charge by 10p per mile have been agreed.
The Highland Council’s transport, environmental and community services committee has confirmed a new scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands.
The cost of the first mile will rise to £3.30 with each subsequent mile rising to £1.40.
A second tariff, which will apply at weekends or between 10pm and 7am on any day, will rise to £4.40; each subsequent mile will rise to £1.90. This will also apply on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day.
If there are no appeals against the decision, the new fares will be introduced on Monday, June 27.
In reviewing the fares for the first time in 18 months, the council has taken into account increases in the costs of operating taxis, such as rising diesel, petrol and insurance premiums.
John Laing, chairman of the TECs committee, said the council exercised a balancing function in setting taxi fares between the expectations of taxi operators to earn a living against the public expectation to be able to hire a taxi of reasonable quality at a reasonable price.
In summary, the general effect of the amendments proposed are as follows:
Tariff one: The cost of the first mile will rise from £3.20 to £3.30, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.30 to £1.40.
Tariff two: Applies on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day and between 10pm and 7am on any day, all day on Saturday and Sunday and when five or more passengers are being carried at any time of day or night. The cost of the first mile will rise from £4.30 to £4.40, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.80 to £1.90.
Tariff three: Applies on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and January 2. It also applies when five or more passengers are being carried between 10pm and 7am, all day on Saturday and Sunday and on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day. Tariff three may be applied all day on Saturday where there are five or more passengers being carried.
If a vehicle is soiled a maximum charge of £60 is payable by an offending passenger where the vehicle requires to be removed from service for cleaning in order for it to be restored to a usable condition.
