TAXI fares are going up in Liverpool for the first time in four years.

It means after 11pm the meter will start at £3 instead of the present £2.75 and will tick away quicker than previously.

Passengers getting into a hackney cab during the day will go from a £2.40 standing start, up 20p on the present tariff.

Unite, the trade union which represents a number of taxi drivers in the city, put in the request for a rise.  They argued that fares in Liverpool are, on average below other major cities. They also said that if fares were not increased now it would lead to a larger hike in fares at a later date.

Objections to the proposed increase were considered, says Liverpool City Council,  but it has been agreed that the increase should go ahead with immediate effect.

The new charges, which will perhaps be best understood in practice, are listed below.

Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We have a responsibility to be fair to both the taxi trade and to passengers. Nobody likes price increases but this is the first rise in four years and it has been kept as low as possible.

“Experience has shown that  if you keep the fares down too long you end up with having to impose a very big increase.  In the 1980s the fares were frozen for six years but this was followed by a rise of nearly 30 percent.

“There were objections from some taxi drivers and passengers and these were carefully considered but ,on balance, it has been decided that an increase in fares at this time is justified.”

A council spokesman added”  “The decision about varying taxi fares is a function which is a delegated decision and not one for the Licensing Committee.”

It's complicated: The new fares at a (long) glance

Tariff One or D (Day) rate
For journeys beginning after 06:00 hours and ending before 23:00 hours (other than when Tariffs Two or Three apply) 
£2.40 (instead of £2.20 currently) for the first 330 yards (or less)
Then 20p each succeeding 232 yards (or less) up to 14080 (instead of 11002 currently) yards
Then 20p each succeeding 300 (instead of 330 currently) yards (or less)
And 20p each 60 seconds waiting charge or (or less)
 
Tariff Two or N (Night) rate
For journeys beginning after 23:00 hours and ending before 06:00 hours or at any times on Easter Sunday and all bank holidays (other than the Xmas and New Year periods when the Tariff 3 (or X) rate should be charged – see below) 
£3.00 (instead of £2.75 currently) for the first 330 yards (or less)
Then 25p each succeeding 232 yards (or less) up to 14080 (instead of 11002 currently) yards
Then 25p each succeeding 300 (instead of 330 currently) yards (or less)
And 25p each 60 seconds waiting charge or (or less) 
Tariff Three or X (Extra) rate
For journeys beginning (1) after 6.00pm on December 24 to 6.00am on 27 December and (2) after 6.00pm on 31 December to 6.00am on 2 January. This rate can also be charged if the journey taken is over four miles beyond the City of Liverpool boundary AND THE USE OF THIS RATE HAS BEEN AGREED IN ADVANCE
£3.60 (instead of £3.30 currently) for the first 330 yards (or less)
Then 30p each succeeding 232 yards (or less) up to 14080 (instead of 11002 currently) yards
Then 30p each succeeding 300 (instead of 330 currently) yards (or less)
And 30p each 60 seconds waiting charge or (or less)