Council chiefs are currently reviewing the taxi charge structure and councillors will next week be asked whether or not to maintain current fares or push through an increase.
The latter move would come at the worst possible time for passengers during the cost of living crisis.
However, the taxi trade has not increased charges for the first mile and a half since 2007 – and drivers are facing increased fuel costs.
The majority of taxi drivers are in favour of fares rising, with some suggesting that the starting rate for the first mile and a half should increase from £4.50 to either £5 or £5.50.
The council launched a consultation with the taxi trade for a month between September and October, and this resulted in 27 responses.
Nineteen drivers called for the maximum fare structure to be increased due to the cost of living, rising costs of fuel, and running their vehicles. The other eight respondents wanted no changes.
One driver wrote in the council’s consultation document: “I do not think anything between 10-20 per cent increase is unreasonable, especially when there has not been an increase for a good few years.
“It will be nice to see fares go up in line with the cost of living and fuel. Taxi fares always seem to be the last to rise.”
Another driver commented: “Dumfries and Galloway has nearly the lowest fares in country. We are in a cost of living crisis after just surviving the covid crisis. Fuel and car part costs are increasing weekly.
“We need to bring in meters to give a level playing field to everyone, and stop single operators avoiding paying tax and undercutting legitimate companies.”
However, a driver in favour of maintaining the current fare structure commented: “Due to the economic crisis people are finding it hard enough to get by. Any increase will make it quieter.”
The council’s licensing authority must fix a scale for taxi hire charges every 18 months.
While no changes have been made to fare charges since 2007, some other adjustments were made in 2018.
A premium of £1 per hire for unsocial hours between midnight and 6am was granted, while waiting charges increased from 35p per minute to 40p per minute for each period of two minutes waiting time.
The soiling of vehicles increased from £50 to £100.
The issue is due to be discussed at the council’s communities committee next Tuesday. If any changes are made, they would be implemented from March 1, 2023.
