Taxi fares in the Rochford district could rise by an average of eight per cent from later this year.

Members of the council's taxi licensing sub-committee will be considering an application from the Hackney Carriage Drivers Association at a meeting being held on Tuesday, July 20.

The proposed increase is more than the retail price index increase, which is considered when the council fixes the fares.

Taxi drivers claim the need for a larger increase is to compensate for last year's tariff charges. These were a decrease over the first two miles of a journey and an average one per cent increase from three to five miles.

Increases were made in the amounts charged on Sundays, bank holidays and between 10.30pm and 6pm in addition to figures for luggage and extra passengers.

Published Monday July 12, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo