Due to record prices for fuel at service station pumps, the price for hiring a Hackney Carriages taxi in Powys which can be hailed on the street could be about to rise substantially.
At a Powys County Council cabinet meeting next Tuesday, councillors will consider a report that recommends increasing the price of taxi fares.
At the meeting, senior licensing officer Sue Jones will explain that the council has received requests from taxi firms for an increase in tariff fares for Hackney Carriages in Powys.
The comparison with other local authorities in Wales is how much will a taxi fare cost for a two-mile journey. At the moment in Powys, the cost is £5.40 but under the new proposals, the fare will rise to £6.
Ms Jones explains that trade magazine, The Private Hire and Taxi Monthly, publishes “league tables” showing fare tariffs throughout England and Wales and the “comparisons in May show that based upon a two-mile journey, the current UK average fare is £6.24, the all-Wales average is £6”.
She said: “Powys’ two-mile tariff equates to £5.40 and currently sits at 300 out of 358 local authorities in National Fare Tables. The current tariff for Hackney Carriages was introduced in 2018.”
A consultation exercise took place with Powys for Licensed Taxi Drivers between March 17 and April 1 seeking views on new fare tariffs. There were 33 responses, of which 31 were in favour of increased tariffs.
Ms Jones said: “With the taxi trade facing increased operating costs there is a risk that taxi businesses in the county will fail if fares are not increased to meet their extra operating costs.
“Taxi fares need to be fair to be both the drivers and vehicle owners in order to make a living at a level to be affordable and used by the travelling public.”
If cabinet agree to the fare increase, the changes will be subject to a two-week public consultation period.
If there are no objections, the changes would come into force at the end of that consultation period.