Huge rise in taxi fares

Late-night revellers will have to fork out more to get home at night if moves to introduce a 30 per cent rise in taxi fares in a Black Country borough get the green light.

The proposed increase will affect Walsall passengers travelling between 10pm and 6am and see an almost immediate 75p rise, with costs increasing throughout the journey.

The Taxi Federation has requested the hackney carriage increase to cover unsociable hours worked, increased fuel costs, MOT tests, licensing costs and insurance.

Drivers have also highlighted concerns over the damage caused to their vehicles by drunken passengers and originally asked for an even bigger 50 per cent rise.

But the Taxi Liaison Group has suggested a 30 per cent increase which is recommended for approval by the licensing and safety committee.

Charges throughout the day will not be affected but evening passengers will see the cost of travelling the first 335 yards go from £2.50 to £3.25.

It currently costs £3.60 until the meter reads the first mile but under the proposals this will rise to £4.68. In Sandwell it costs £4.50 for the first mile. There has not been an increase in taxi fares since June 2005.

In a report to the committee next Wednesday, Walsall Council's head of public protection Judith Sunley, says: "It can be seen that the increase that is being requested would not affect normal daily routes but would only give an extra tariff for evenings between 10pm and 6am.

"This is when the trade are working unsocial hours and are confronted on a regular basis with anti-social problems.

"This requested change in tariff has never needed to be considered before, but with the changes in the licensing laws and the increase in late-night town centre entertainment the trade has, over the last three years, had to adapt quite considerably to the demands placed on it during these late hours."