Taxi fares could rise as councillors consider changes
A decision will be made next week.
An increase to taxi fares and the potential introduction of other charges are on the table in Dumfries and Galloway.
Councillors will next week consider whether or not to increase the current the current maximum fare structure and approve other fees for passengers.
Dumfries and Galloway Council undertook a consultation with all taxi operators via email/letter on November 25 last year, seeking views by December 15 on if fares should remain as current, be reduced or increase.
Just 27 responses were received from 248 taxi drivers operating in the region.
Eighteen taxi driver were in favour of fares being increase, while nine stated they should remain at the current level.
A report on the matter will be tabled at next Thursday’s enabling and customer services committee.
It states: “Seventeen out of the 18 responses received cite increased costs to the operator such as fuel, maintenance, insurance, repairs and inflation as a reason to increase the current fares.
“Reasons provided for recommending that the current maximum fare structure should remain the same – four out of eight responses received think that the current structure is high enough or is a fair price.
“Two responses cite additional cost to the public as a reason to keep it the same.
“One response requested that fees should remain the same as long as application fees stay the same. The remaining response suggested a ‘rural service’ as the reason for keeping the current maximum fare structure the same.”
The survey also asked drivers if there should be a new higher fare tariff, based on distance, if the vehicle is licensed to carry five or more passengers and the council has approved it to be wheelchair accessible.
The responses were: yes – 12, no – six, not sure – seven.
They were also asked if there should be a new higher tariff, based on distance, for unsocial hours between midnight and 6am. The current tariff allows a premium of £1 per hire to be charged for all hires between midnight and 6am.
The responses were: yes – 22, no – three.