Wealden taxi fares set to go up again

It would be the second increase in the space of just four months

Author: Huw Oxburgh, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 30th Jul 2022

The amount taxi drivers can charge in Wealden could be set to rise for a second time this year, should proposals get the go ahead from councillors next week. 

On Wednesday (August 3), Wealden District Council’s licensing committee is expected to consider proposals to increase the maximum fares the council’s Hackney Carriage drivers can charge by a little under ten per cent.

If approved, the change would come on top of a ten per cent increase which came into force in May. At the time, the committee had agreed to review prices again within three months due to fluctuating fuel  prices. Prior to this the last fare increase had been in 2018. 

As before, the proposal is intended to reflect rising fuel prices, which council officers say have increased by close to 50 per cent since June 2018. The committee is also expected to consider increasing the district’s ‘soiling charge’ to £100 to reflect the cost to drivers of having to stop and clean their cab. 

Since May 9, Hackney Carriage drivers can charge up £3.10 per journey, plus 10p for every 76.5 yards after the first (or 15p for vehicles capable of carrying more than five passengers). 

If approved, this would increase to £3.40 per journey, plus 10p for every 76.5 yards after the first (or 15p for vehicles capable of carrying more than five passengers). 

This would increase to £4.60 plus 15p per 76.5 yards (or 20p for the larger vehicles) for journeys taking place on bank holidays or between midnight and 5.59am. Christmas and New Year fares would also increase.

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