Taxi fares in Eden will rise for the first time in over 10 years from next month.
Eden council’s licensing committee has approved the proposals, which will come into effect from April 18.
The changes will see the first 8/10 of mile charge under Tariff One, for journeys between 6am and 11pm, rise by 50p from £2.50 to £3, with an increase of 5p for each subsequent 1/10 of mile from 25p to 30p.
Tariff Two, for journeys between 11pm and 6am, will increase by 50p from £3.50 to £4 for the first 8/10 of a mile, with the cost of each subsequent 1/10 of mile rising from 35p to 40p.
The rates for Tariff Three, which covers Bank Holidays for the period up to 6am on the following day; and also between 6pm and noon on December 24 and December 31, will increase by 50p from £4.50 to £5 for the first 8/10 of a mile.
The charge for each subsequent 1/10 of a mile will also increase by 5p from 45p to 50p.
Waiting time charge will also increase from 90p to £1 for each single period of three minutes, or uncompleted part thereof, on all tariffs.
The additional charge for soiling of a carriage also rises from £75 to £100, to better reflect the costs incurred for cleaning.
There will be no increase in the rates for each person carried in excess of two, which will stay at 50p, or for each article of wheeled luggage carried outside the passenger compartment, which will also remain at 50p.
Eden District Council’s resources portfolio holder, Councillor Karen Greenwood, said: “The approval of the recommendations made by the licensing committee is a welcome development for everybody in Eden; taxi drivers, tourism businesses, residents and visitors.
“Taxi fares have not been reviewed for more than 10 years, but associated costs have risen enormously in that time, resulting in hardship for drivers. We all know that we need more taxis in Eden, and that many of our hard working taxi drivers are retiring, with no one taking their place.
“This impacts on our economy for businesses, residents and visitors, alike.
“I hope that this modest and overdue increase in fares will make Eden a more attractive place for new taxi businesses, which in turn will make the district a better place to live and visit.”
