Source: News and Star
Taxi fares in Carlisle are likely to go up next month.
Fares are set by the city council. They last increased in October 2010.
Councillors are being recommended to implement an increase of just under four per cent, slightly less than inflation, when the regulatory panel meets on Wednesday.
The cost of a two-mile journey would rise from £5.10 to £5.30. A 10-mile trip, such as Longtown to Carlisle, would increase from £21.10 to £21.90.
Carlisle’s taxi fares are already the second highest in Cumbria.
The £5.10 fare for two miles compares with £4.60 in Barrow and Copeland, £4.85 in Allerdale and £5 in South Lakeland.
Only Eden, at £5.50, charges more.
The city council recently canvassed the opinions of taxi drivers. A total of 137 – 73 per cent of those responding – wanted fares to rise.
A report from licensing manager Jim Messenger says that taxi operators are facing sharply-increased costs. Fuel and oil is up 14 per cent over 12 months and insurance up by 20 per cent. Overall, taxi costs have risen by 5.93 per cent in a year compared with the 5 per cent increase in the Government’s retail price index.
Carlisle taxi fares have two elements.
There is a fixed-rate flagfall that applies to the first 0.7 miles of a journey. This would rise from £2.50 to £2.70.
Beyond 0.7 miles, fares climb by 20p for each 176 yards travelled. The proposal is to reduce this to 170 yards.
If councillors agree, the new fares will apply from October 6, provided there are no objections by September 30.
Any objections would be considered by the regulatory panel on October 19 and any increase would then apply from October 24.
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