Rochford District Council has launched a consultation seeking views on the proposed increase in taxi fares.

The Council has received a proposal from the local taxi trade to revise the current Rochford District Taxi Tariff. As part of the process, a survey was circulated to all Hackney Carriage taxi drivers, garnering responses from 167 drivers.

The current fees have been in place since September 2022, but due to the general cost of running a taxi, including the cost of fuel, insurance and road tax, 95.2% of respondents expressed their support for the proposed increase.

The suggested new taxi tariff includes the following changes:

• Changing the charges from the existing 3 tariffs (Daytime rate; Evening, Sunday & BH rate; and Christmas rate) to 5 tariffs (Daytime rate; Early Morning, Late evening, Sunday & BH rate; Late Night Rate; Boxing Day Rate; and Christmas & New Year Rate)
• Starting fares and Increments to be amended according to specific rate
• Fees for luggage and additional passengers to be increased from 40p to 50p each (except wheelchairs)
• Carriage of animals to be increased from 40p to a maximum charge of £1.00 (except assistance dogs)
• Despoilment charge to remain at £100.

For more information and to take part in the survey, visit: https://engagewithus.co.uk/taxi-fare-increase-proposal-2024

The consultation ends Saturday 2 March 2024.