Taxi Increases To Take Effect From 10 January 2005

19th December 2004

A 5% increase in taxi fares throughout the Highlands will come into force from Monday 10 January 2005.

The Highland Council has been able to confirm the increase following rejection of an appeal to Richard Hamilton McFarlane, Deputy Traffic Commissioner in the Scottish Traffic Area, that the increase was inadequate.

Mr Hamilton McFarlane ruled that the appeal by Gordon Kennedy, Secretary of the Central Highland Drivers~ Association, Inverness, was not representative of a substantial proportion of the operators of taxis in the Inverness area and refused the appeal.

Councillor David Munro, the Council's spokesman on taxi matters, welcomed the ruling. In agreeing the increase, the Council had to balance the interests of the taxi drivers with those of taxi users. He said: "The taxi trade provides a valuable service in the Highlands and we are keen to be fair to them by introducing an increase of 5% in fares. At the same time, we insist on the highest standards from taxi operators to ensure the interests of the travelling public are safeguarded."

There are 980 taxi drivers operating in the Highlands from 565 taxi licences. There are also 140 drivers operating from 111 Private Hire Cars.

The new fares are as follows:

Tariff 1 (the normal rate which applies to taxi and private hire cars fitted with a taximeter): - 1 mile, £2.50 (existing charge £2.40); 2 miles, £3.60 (£3.40); 3 miles, £4.70 (£4.50).

Tariff 2 (the higher rate that applies on Boxing Day and 2 January as well as between midnight and 8 am on any day, all day on Sunday and when five or more passengers are being carried at any time of any day or night in a people carrier or by a converted minibus):- 1 mile, £3.50 (£3.30); 2 miles, £5.10 (£4.80); 3 miles, £6.70 (£6.30).

Tariff 3 (the special rate applies on Christmas Day and New Year's Day and when five or more passengers are being carried between midnight and 8 am and all day on Sunday in a people carrier or by a minibus):- 1 mile, £4.60 (£4.30); 2 miles, £6.70 (£6.30); 3 miles, £8.70 (£8.20).