Taxi fares will increase in some parts of Cumbria from next month.
Members of the regulatory committee for Westmorland and Furness Council approved to raise the maximum cost of taxi fares for hackney carriage vehicles by seven per cent from April 1.
According to a report prepared for committee members in November, the average cost of a two-mile daytime journey with no waiting time is currently £6.50 in Barrow, £6.60 in Eden and £6.70 in South Lakeland. This is lower than the national average of £6.97.
With the proposed increase, taxi fares will rise to £6.80 in Barrow, £6.80 in Eden and £7.20 in South Lakeland for the average cost of a two-mile daytime journey with no waiting time.
A consultation conducted by the council with hackney carriage drivers found 83 per cent of licence holders in Barrow support the proposal, with 61 per cent in favour in the Eden area as well as 91 per cent in the South Lakeland area.
Councillor Les Hall (Hawcoat and Newbarns, Conservative), said: “I think it’s quite clear from the consultation that the majority of the taxi trade want an increase, and we should go ahead with the increase, but I do believe there needs to be harmonisation and we know that work’s ongoing.”
George Harkin, a taxi driver in Barrow for 10 years, objected against the proposed rise due to the unacceptable disparity between the areas in Westmorland and Furness.
Mr Harkin said: “Why should people like myself be treated differently in what we can earn as taxi drivers in the same district of Westmorland and Furness?
“The opportunity is now to deliver the same reward to all taxi drivers no matter what geographical location they are in in Westmorland and Furness. What is being proposed today is not inclusive and it is not fair.”
In response, chair of the committee Councillor Helen Ladhams said she agreed fares should be equal and told the committee a consultation and approval from the secretary of state would be necessary for harmonisation.
The head of public protection for the council Graham Barker told the committee work was underway for an overarching policy to cover all of Westmorland and Furness.
