Taxi fares in Wirral will rise within days after the move was approved by Wirral Council.
The starting charge during the day for black cabs in Wirral and up to four miles outside of the area will increase by 40p to £3.60.
Starting tariffs for Hackney carriages at night will increase from £3.60 to £5 and the bank holiday starting price will increase from £3.80 to £5. A rate for Christmas and Boxing Day will be reduced from £6 to £5.
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The initial proposal included raising the starting rate for taxis during the day to £5 as well but this was revised down after councillors considered a suggestion made by a taxi driver in objections they received to the proposal.
The proposal from the taxi driver would see prices start at £3.60 and increase by 20p every 207 metres, which would lead to an equivalent fare of £5 after one mile.
The changes will come into effect Friday, October 7 after the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee approved them on September 27. Representatives of Unite the Union and other taxi drivers were present at the meeting.
The reason for the rise is due to rises in fuel prices as well as the cost of living and was intended to help taxi drivers.
The committee heard from Caroline Pettersson, the branch secretary for Unite the Union representing more than 80 people about concerns with councillors worried raising the rate significantly could impact business and turn customers away.
Councillor Chris Jones said she was worried about the impact on customers and would move to private hire cares: “I think it is a huge increase for someone going to ASDA to do their shopping who literally just around the corner and I am still objecting to the £5 starting rate.”
Ms Pettersson said the changes were necessary and Unite had asked for a higher rise in starting prices beginning at £5. She said: “We still have to work for a living. Most drivers are working most of the day below minimum wage”, adding “asking taxi drivers to work 60 hours is a disgrace.”
She said the only people the current prices were unfair to were taxi drivers.
Regarding the proposal made by a taxi driver to start at £3.60, Ms Petterson said: “You get 150 different views on how they think it should be,” adding “we felt at the branch that starting with one price and going one distance that was a fairer way to ask for a rise.
“I say this, that there is always going to be someone it is going to hurt.”
Chair Andrew Hodson criticised Ms Petterson for not revealing the exact number of members she represented as well as not reading the report published before the committee. Ms Petterson, in response, said: “I haven’t had time to read the report as I had pressing matters at home to deal with.”
18 objections were received from taxi drivers to the initial proposals after an advert was placed in the Wirral Globe.
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