Bid for 50p rise in taxi fares for first mile

AN increase to taxi fares in Merthyr Tydfil will come into force on June 30 if there are no objections.

The council’s cabinet recently approved a request from taxi owners to increase the current rate of fares but there is still time for residents to object.

A letter sent to the council from 24 taxi proprietors asked for an increase of 50p on the first mile of each journey, which drivers said would help them cope with the rise in the cost of living.

Details of the proposal were circulated to all 201 licensed drivers and proprietors of hackney carriages in Merthyr Tydfil and there were 34 responses, 30 of whom agreed with the increase.

The cabinet report said the last taxi tariff increase was in March 2020.

It said figures from Private Hire and Taxi Monthly magazine showed that based upon a twomile journey, the current national average fare was £6.24.

Merthyr Tydfil’s current twomile fare is £5.50 and the proposed new tariff would be £6.

It said Merthyr Tydfil Council currently sits 287th lowest out of 359 councils which set Hackney carriage fare tariffs and that the proposed increase would see Merthyr Tydfil move to 201st in the table.

The new rate would be 22p above the Welsh average for a two-mile journey and 24p below the national average.

The current Welsh average fare for two miles is £5.78 with Merthyr Tydfil at 16th out of 22 authorities. It would move to seventh in the table with the increase.

If no objections are received, the changes will automatically come into force on June 30.

If objections are received, the recommendation will be put back before the cabinet to consider whether or not to go ahead with the rise.

Any objections to the proposed increase, along with the grounds for objecting, must be made in writing to the licensing department either by letter to the civic centre or by email to licensing@merthyr.gov. uk