Taxi fares could go up by 8 percent in West Berkshire

West Berkshire Council has launched a public consultation on whether hackney carriage operators should be permitted to increase their fares by eight per cent.

Rises in fuel costs have prompted the move.

The council is required, by law, to consult on any proposed changes to the fares.

The current fees have been in place since November 2021 but due to the steep increase in fuel costs this year’s review is taking place earlier.

At the time the current fares came into operation petrol cost around £1.47 a litre and diesel £1.50 per litre. Since then the cost of fuel has increased to around £1.95 a litre for petrol and diesel around £2 per litre.

The proposal seeks to increase the cost of a two-mile journey from £7.40 to £8 when a journey commences between 6am and 9.59pm Monday to Saturday.

The draft tariffs also include costs for fouling for the first time.

This would mean that passengers that soiled the interior or exterior of a

taxi could be charged up to £75 and £25 respectively for doing so.

For more information go to: Consultations –

PPP (publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk)