Taxi fare review in Highland

The public is being asked for its views on proposals by The Highland Council to revise the scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands. The public have until Friday 22 April to respond. Responses will be reported back to the Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee on Thursday 26 May, with a proposed implementation date of midnight on Monday 20 June of this year

In reviewing the fares, the Council has taken into account increases in the costs of operating taxis, such as rising diesel, petrol and insurance premiums.

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee, said the Council exercised a balancing function in setting taxi fares between the expectations of taxi operators to earn a living against the public expectation to be able to hire a taxi of reasonable quality at a reasonable price.

Operators, he said, were entitled to charge any fare, provided it did not exceed the maximum provided for in the tariff.

In summary the general effect of the amendments proposed are as follows:

Tariff 1: The cost of the first mile will rise from £3.10p to £3.20p, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.30p to £1.40p.

Tariff 2: applies on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day and between 10 pm and 7 am on any day, all day on Saturday and Sunday and when 5 or more passengers are being carried at any time of day or night): The cost of the first mile will rise from £4.20 to £4.30, each subsequent mile will rise from £1.80 to £1.90.

Tariff 3:  applies on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January. It also applies when 5 or more passengers are being carried between 10 pm and 7 am, all day on Saturday and Sunday and on Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Day.  Tariff 3 may be applied all day on Saturday where there are 5 or more passengers being carried.

A maximum charge of £60 is payable by an offending passenger, where a vehicle requires to be removed from service for cleaning in order for it to be restored to a usable state and condition.

Responses in writing should be sent by Friday 22 April to-