Plan to raise taxi fares due to higher fuel prices

A council has agreed to a proposal to increase taxi fares to help cab drivers cope with the higher cost of fuel as a result of the Middle East conflict.

North Devon Council has agreed to raise a starting charge for a regular car during the day from £3.10 to £3.90 and larger vehicles carrying five or more people from £4.70 to £5.85.

Councillors also agreed a 20p surcharge on total journeys when fuel costs went above £1.70 a litre and further increments of 20p every time fuel increased by 5p a litre beyond that.

The decision would go through a public consultation and, if approved, taxi drivers would be able to choose to implement them from July, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Members of the council's licensing and community safety committee also increased the price of waiting time from 25p to 30p per minute.

One taxi driver said in a consultation: "Once fuel, insurance, maintenance and other running costs are accounted for, it becomes extremely difficult to make a living during daytime hours."

The committee considered increasing the running mile charge but decided against doing so because of fears passengers would not be able to afford the fee.

The price of fuel sharply rose when the war in the Middle East began.

Petrol is now selling for just over 158p a litre on average, up from 133p in late February, while diesel has risen from 142p a litre to 192p, the RAC said.

Councillor Simon Maddocks said the increase in taxi rates would act as a "safety net" over a volatile period and could be reviewed again in two years.

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