Council launches short consultation on revised Hackney Carriage tariff
Worcester City Council has put forward a set of changes to Hackney Carriage fares that would raise the minimum daytime charge and introduce higher rates for nights, Sundays and bank holidays. The proposals, which are subject to a public consultation running from 5 August to 19 August, would take effect automatically on 20 August unless formal objections are received.
Under the main proposal, labelled Tariff One, journeys between 7am and midnight from Monday to Saturday would attract a first‑mile charge of £5.60, followed by £2 for each additional mile. A higher Tariff Two would apply at night, on Sundays, bank holidays and other specified holidays, beginning with a first mile of £7.10 and £2.80 per subsequent mile.
"£5.60 for the first mile and £2 for each additional mile."
Extra charges and a cleaning fee to support drivers
The council is also proposing an additional charge of 50p for every passenger above three, intended to reflect greater passenger loads. In a move aimed at protecting drivers from the costs of soiling and lost working time, a one‑off £75 cleaning fee would be introduced when a vehicle is rendered unusable by a passenger incident.
- Tariff One (Mon–Sat, 7am–midnight): £5.60 first mile; £2 per additional mile.
- Tariff Two (nights, Sundays, bank/public holidays): £7.10 first mile; £2.80 per additional mile.
- Extra passenger supplement: 50p for every person above three.
- Cleaning fee: £75 where a vehicle is soiled and taken out of service.
Those wishing to object must submit written representations to the council’s Licensing and Support Services Manager by the consultation closing date. If no valid objections are lodged, the revised fare table will be adopted automatically on the stated implementation date.
Why the changes matter locally
The proposed fares would affect residents across Worcester who use taxis for journeys to work, hospital appointments, leisure and late‑night travel. For regular users of Hackney Carriages, an increased starting fare will raise the cost of short trips across the city. The higher night and holiday tariff will particularly affect those travelling home after late shifts or weekend events.
For drivers, the measures offer a mixed picture. The rise in basic fares and the introduction of a cleaning fee represent potential income protections; the per‑passenger supplement recognises the additional wear and tear and space considerations of larger parties. However, higher headline fares can, in turn, influence demand — particularly for short hops — and drivers will weigh the trade‑off between higher per‑trip receipts and possible reductions in ride numbers.
Next steps and how to take part
The consultation window is deliberately brief. Residents, businesses and taxi operators who want to register support or lodge objections should ensure their submissions reach the Licensing and Support Services Manager at Worcester City Council by 19 August. The council will then determine whether to proceed with the new tariff table from 20 August or to consider objections received.
| Element | Proposed charge |
|---|---|
| Tariff One (first mile) | £5.60 |
| Tariff One (per additional mile) | £2.00 |
| Tariff Two (first mile) | £7.10 |
| Tariff Two (per additional mile) | £2.80 |
| Extra passenger | 50p per passenger above three |
| Cleaning fee | £75 |
As with any fare review, the council must balance the interests of passengers, drivers and the wider public. The short consultation period increases the likelihood that changes will be implemented swiftly unless the community mobilises to oppose them. For many Worcester residents, the final decision will have a direct and immediate effect on everyday travel costs and the availability of taxi services across the city.
