Taxi operators will be allowed to increase daytime charges by more than 20 per cent if proposed new rates come into effect. 

Cherwell District Council’s executive agreed this week to start a public consultation with a view to hiking up the prices of taxis.  

The proposed rates represent the maximum that Hackney Carriage-licensed taxis are allowed to charge.  

Although operators can choose to charge less. 

Muhammad, a taxi driver from Banbury, said: “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a fare increase; around 9 years I think.  

“It’s about time the rates were increased. It’s been a real struggle as fuel prices have gone up, but the charges haven’t. 

“People don’t realise that we are using fuel all the time, and only charge once the customer gets into the car. We’re really struggling.”  

The current plan is to put up the day tariff - which covers the first quarter of a mile for journeys between 6am and 10pm - by more than a third from £2.20 to £3. 

Every 123 metres after that can currently be charged at 12 pence, a figure that would go up by 20% to 15 pence under the new plans.  

The night tariff, applied between 10pm and 6pm, is set to go up from £3 to £3.50, with the maximum for each extra 114 metres increasing from 13 pence to 15 pence. 

Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime rates will go up from £2.50 to £3 with each 107 metres thereafter increasing from 13 pence to 15 pence.  

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Christmas and New Year tariffs are set to stay at £4 and 25 pence per 123 metres thereafter. 

A council report explained that some of those numbers are slightly higher than initially proposed: “as a consequence of further discussions with Cherwell Taxi Association in late June.” 

It continued: “In consideration of the volatility of fuel prices and the rapid increase in prices in recent weeks, the proposed maximum tariffs are considered to better reflect the increased costs faced by licensed drivers and reduce the likelihood of a further review being required in the short term.”  

The report also warned that doing nothing “could result in a substantial reduction in the number of taxis operating in the district and therefore impacting on the community”. 

Councillor Eddie Reeves, Cherwell’s portfolio holder for safer communities, said: “This is principally with a view to the cost of operating having gone up.  

“Given that the current maximum fares were agreed in 2013, the changes are proportionate with the increased cost of being in business.” 

 

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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