Taxi drivers in North Tyneside are requesting an 8% fare increase to help mitigate the rising costs of fuel, insurance, and vehicle parts. The North Tyneside Hackney Carriage Association (NTHCA) has formally asked the North Tyneside Council to approve the hike, which would result in an average cost of £5.52 for a three-mile journey.
This proposed increase applies specifically to hackney carriages, which can be hailed directly on the street or found at taxi ranks. It does not affect pre-booked vehicles.
Councillors have expressed reservations about the proposed fare adjustment. Labour councillor John O'Shea indicated a preference for a more "balanced arrangement" than the 8% increase suggested by the NTHCA, citing the financial strain on North Tyneside residents who are also experiencing the cost of living crisis.
"I just don't think we have got the right balance," O'Shea stated. "I notice that the taxi trade has had significant uplifts in fuel and insurance and things like that, so they've been suffering for a little while." He acknowledged the financial pressures on drivers but emphasized that residents are also struggling. "My suggestion to the director of public health is to look at a balanced arrangement, not the 8% that has been suggested."
In addition to fare changes, the NTHCA has proposed increases for extra charges. Fines for incidents such as car theft could rise from £125 to £130, and charges for carrying animals, excluding service animals, are proposed to increase from £3 to £4.
The fare proposals will be made public for at least 14 days for any objections before a final decision is made, pending approval from the director of public health.