Caithness.org News Bulletins -  October 2002

Front Page Archives

The Highland Council is inviting comments from the public on its proposal to increase taxi fares throughout the Highlands by an average of 10%, with effect from Monday 9 December.

The Council has a statutory duty to review the taxi tariff every 18 months. In recommending an increase, it recognises that Highland fares are among the lowest in the United Kingdom. A two-mile fare in Highland costs £3 compared to the national average of £3.65. On top of this, vehicle maintenance costs have risen by 17.5% over the past five years and insurance premiums have risen by 50%.

It is recommended that a £1.80 initial fare on tariff 1 be introduced and increases across the board be set at 10%. It is also recommended that tariff 2 should come into effect from 10 pm rather than midnight and that a soiling charge of £35 be introduced as compensation to a driver when a passenger causes the vehicle to be put off the road for cleaning.

The public have until Friday 8 November to respond to the review of taxi fares. Those interested should write to Mr Alistair Dodds, Director of Corporate Services, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX. Any representations will be considered by the Council's TEC Services Committee on 21 November and the new fares introduced on 9 December, subject to any appeal to the Traffic Commissioner.

The proposed tariffs are as follows: -

Tariff 1 (the normal rate which applies to taxi and private hire cars fitted with a taximeter): - 1 mile, £2.40 (existing charge £2.10); 2 miles, £3.40 (£3); 3 miles, £4.50 (£4); 4 miles, £5.50 (£4.90); 5 miles, £6.60 (£5.90); 10 miles, £11.80 (£10.60); 15 miles, £17.10 (£15.30); 30 miles, ££32.80 (£29.50).

Tariff 2 (the higher rate that applies on Boxing Day and 2 January as well as between 10 pm 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, £3.30 (£2.90); 2 miles, £4.80 (£4.30); 3 miles, £6.30 (£5.60); 4 miles, £7.80 (£7); 5 miles, £9.30 (£8.30; 10 miles, £16.80 (£15.10); 15 miles, £24.20 (£21.90); 30 miles, £46.60 (£42.20).

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, £4.30 (£3.80); 2 miles, £6.30 (£5.60); 3 miles, £8.20 (£7.30); 4 miles, £10.20 (£9.10); 5 miles £12.10 (£10.80); 10 miles, £21.90 (£19.60); 15 miles, ££31.70 (£28.40); 30 miles, £61 (£54.80).