Expensive taxi fare hike plan is axed by council

Rise would've made East Ayrshire the fourth highest in Scotland

- KEVIN DYSON

Councillors have rejected a proposed increase to taxi fares, choosing instead to maintain the current fare structure following strong public opposition.

Taxi drivers had sought an increase in both basic fare up to three-quarters of a mile (up from £4 to £4.50) and the rate for subsequent distances (up from 20p to 25p every 125 yards), citing increased costs.

But concerns about the impact of people who rely on taxis and stating that the increase would make East Ayrshire the fourth highest in Scotland and the 21st highest in the UK helped councillors on the panel arrive at the decision to reject the increases.

A basic two mile journey in East Ayrshire currently comes in around £7.60, following a review of fares in 2023, these coming into effect in 2024.

Both South and North Ayrshire Council have carried out their own reviews recently, with South Ayrshire leapfrogging East Ayrshire on trade journal, Private Hire and Taxi Monthly's regular taxi fare league table at 80th highest in the UK, with a two mile journey costing around £8.