Taxi fares in Denbighshire set to increase

Taxi fares in Denbighshire are set to rise by 50p a mile for a standard journey next month – if councillors vote in support of a report tomorrow.
Amid the current cost-of-living crisis, taxi fares are set to be discussed by Denbighshire County Council’s Licensing committee.
The report – to review the current tariff charges for hackney carriage vehicles (taxis) – is set to be discussed at the hybrid meeting at Ruthin’s County Hall HQ on Wednesday, June 22.
Members of the committee can either reject the proposals or back the recommendations. Any changes will come into effect from July 1, 2022.
Under the new proposals, fares could rise by 50p per mile for a standard daytime journey, meaning, for instance, a one-way trip from Rhyl to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd could increase by around £2.50-£3 when including the 50p per mile increase and the initial starting fee.
The proposals are as follows:  
Between 7am and 10.59 pm (tariff 1), the start fare (first 1,232 yards) will rise from £3 to £3.50 and from £2 to £2.50 per mile after. There will be a 30p-a-minute waiting time charge.
Between 11pm and 6.59 am (tariff 2), the start fare will rise from £4.50 to £5.25 and from £3 to £3.75 per mile after. There will be a 40p-a-minute waiting time charge.
Taxis already charge the higher rate (tariff two) all day for bank holidays, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but this tariff will also now apply after 6pm on Friday and Saturday nights as well as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
A new surcharge per passenger will also be introduced for more than four passengers.
If agreed, the proposals would mean Denbighshire would become the seventh highest-charging region in Wales and, along with Gwynedd, the second highest in North Wales.
According to the council report, Conwy, having recently amended their charges, currently has the highest rate of charges in North Wales. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​