Taxi fares 'set to rise' in Harrogate

See in pictures how Storm Ciara has devastated Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and MashamA period of public consultation is currently underway following the proposal to increase taxi fares by 2.28% from April this year, which was agreed by Harrogate Borough Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities, Coun Mike Chambers.

The proposed rise, which was put to Coun Chambers in a meeting on January 21, has been calculated using the Hackney Carriage Fare Review Formula. The formula uses the rises in things like vehicles costs, parts and labour, fuel and cost of living to calculate the final figure - which have all risen since the last increase in maximum fares in December 2018.

The proposed increase would see the flag fall for a journey in the daytime rising from £3.30 to £3.40.

This would therefore see Harrogate move up to number 21 in Private Hire Monthly magazine’s league table, which ranks all the councils in England and Wales on taxi fares.

In the latest edition, published in December last year, Harrogate was the 28th most expensive, charging £6.90 at 2 miles, out of a total of 370 local authorities. A report prepared for the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities said: “Harrogate has previously been in the top 20.

“The trade have previously commented that Harrogate’s position is not as high for journeys of greater than two miles.”

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Philip Taylor, Director at Blueline, said: “This is just a cost of living rise. As prices of things like fuel go up, it makes sense that other things have to increase.”

The cost of taxi licences could also be set to rise by ten per cent in the financial year 2020/21 to “maintain a balanced budget” for Harrogate Borough Council, according to the report.

The proposal would see an increase of £23 per year for a vehicle licence renewal.

A council spokesman said: “The council is required to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and the taxi driver.

“Therefore, a rise in the maximum hackney carriage fares of 2.28% has now been proposed.

“These proposed fares, that are currently out for public consultation, are the maximum a driver may charge and they may charge less if they wish to.”

The council is accepting written objections to the proposal through until February 13.

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Write to Paul Campbell, Harrogate Borough Council, PO Box 787, HG1 9RW or email [email protected]