COUNCILLORS are set to debate proposals to increase taxi fares next week across Barrow, South Lakeland and Eden.

Members of the regulatory committee for Westmorland and Furness Council are set to make a decision on whether to raise the cost of taxi fares by seven per cent on Tuesday (November 7).

If councillors decide to increase taxi fares, the head of public protection at the council will conduct a direct engagement and consultation exercise with the licensed hackney carriage proprietors and report back to the committee any representations made during the consultation.

After the end of the 14-day consultation period, if no representations are made, the proposed changes to the taxi fares will be implemented a month later.

According to the report prepared for committee members the average cost of a two-mile daytime journey with no waiting time is currently £6.50 in Barrow, £6.60 in Eden and £6.70 in South Lakeland. This is lower than the national average of £6.97.

With the proposed increase, taxi fares will rise to £6.80 in Barrow, £6.80 in Eden and £7.20 in South Lakeland for the average cost of a two-mile daytime journey with no waiting time.

Members of the committee voted unanimously in favour of raising taxi fares on September 28 in light of the cost-of-living crisis.

Councillor Les Hall (Hawcoat and Newbarns, Conservative) previously said: “The price of insurance has gone through the roof and the number of taxis available, I can only speak for Barrow, is much reduced because drivers can’t make a living. We’ve got to do something, doing nothing is not an option.”

Tariffs were last reviewed in South Lakeland in April 2022 and in Barrow in September 2022. A unified taxi policy for Westmorland and Furness Council is set to be discussed by the committee at a future meeting.

Councillors will consider the proposed increase to taxi fares on Tuesday (November 7) at Penrith Methodist Church.