Wealden Taxi Fare Increase To Go Ahead

Sunday, 7 August 2022 06:00

By Huw Oxburgh, Local Democracy Reporter

The amount taxi drivers can charge in Wealden is set to rise for a second time this year, after proposals gained the go ahead from councillors.

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

The increase is set to come into force from October 3.

The change comes 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 increase is intended to reflect rising fuel prices, which council officers say have increased by close to 50 per cent since June 2018.

Since May 9, Hackney Carriage drivers have been able to charge up to £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). This initial fee is set to increase to £3.40 per journey after October 3.

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

While these are the maximum fares, drivers and taxi firms can and often do charge less than this amount. Notably, taxi drivers in Hailsham operate their own fare structure, which is less than the maximum set by Wealden.

During the same meeting, the committee also agreed to increase the district’s ‘soiling charge’ to £100 to reflect the cost to drivers of having to stop and clean their cab.