December 18, 2014 2.05 pm This story is over 122 months old

North Kesteven taxi fares rise, but still below national average

Taxi tariffs: Taxi fares in North Kesteven will increase for the first time since 2008, but they’ll remain at a rate lower than the national average.

Taxi fares in North Kesteven will increase for the first time since 2008, but they’ll remain at a rate lower than the national average.

Local drivers successfully submitted three proposals to increase fares to North Kesteven District Council.

Hackney carriage operators proposed a 50 pence increase on all starting tariffs, a 10 pence per mile increase or an inflationary increase across the board.

NKDC introduced changes to the maximum tariffs that incorporated these proposals.

There are three rates, which apply:

  • Tariff 1 – Between 7.30am and 11pm;
  • Tariff 2 – Between 11pm and 7.30am, all day Sunday, on Public Holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve between 6pm and midnight – charged at 50% above Tariff 1.
  • Tariff 3 – On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – charged at twice Tariff 1.

The changes increase Tariff 1 by 70 pence over a two-mile journey to £5.60. This includes 50 pence more on the start rate and 10p more per mile. Over ten miles the difference is £1.50 more.

These rates are the maximum a hackney carriage operator can charge and must be displayed in the vehicle.

The new tariffs are now in force after no objections were raised during a consultation period.

NKDC currently licences 65 so-called hackney carriages available to hire in the street and taking passengers from taxi ranks and 188 private-hire operators.

The charges are lower than in Lincoln and East Lindsey and lower than the national average, which is £5.62 for a Tariff 1 two-mile fare.

The council cannot set a fare structure for private hire vehicles – which must be pre-booked and cannot be hailed in the street or at a rank – and in these cases the charges are a matter for individual operators.

Councillor Richard Wright, who has Executive Board responsibility for regulation and enforcement, said the new fares struck a comfortable balance between the needs of the travelling public in North Kesteven and the needs of the vehicle proprietors who are small businesses in the District.