Councillors agreed to an 'urgently' needed taxi fares increase in Neath Port Talbot to meet the ever-increasing cost of fuel.
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) councillors were unanimous in their support for an increase in the hackney carriage fare for the county borough at a meeting on Friday, March 11.
The council said an increase in taxi fares was already on the agenda due to the increased cost of living.
However, a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services at NPTCBC, said that in the last week there have been more requests for an urgent increase to the hackney carriage fare, with drivers and proprietors "very concerned about the increasing costs of petrol and diesel".
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Drivers are also reportedly concerned about the increase in service charges and other costs, like insurance.
Council officer, Neil Chapple, said: "The cost of living is why we are increasing the tariffs.
"The intention was to bring a report to members in summer time and then everything happened in Europe. Petrol prices went through the roof [and] it was urgent that we got this tariff increase through."
As the crisis in Ukraine continues, petrol prices have soared in the UK.
Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of petrol in the UK at 159.6p, up from 158.2p on Tuesday.
The average cost of a litre of diesel reached 167.4p on Wednesday, up from 165.2p on Tuesday.
Cabinet members approved a 30% increase to the start rate of the tariff - from £2.60, up to £3.40.
A three-mile journey would now cost £8.20, where it once cost £7.66. A five-mile journey would rise from £12.06 to £13.
Taxi drivers in Neath Port Talbot, which has one of the lowest tariffs across the 22 authorities in Wales, are relieved to see fares going up.
One taxi driver, Martin Clements, said that on some days it is "hardly worth working" due to the increase in fuel prices.
He said: "As a new starter just before the pandemic hit, it hit me really hard.
"[I] Went from earning enough [to] live comfortably to earning about £15 [per] day.
"I have to take on other jobs such as Amazon Flex, Just Eat and Uber Eats."
Adding to the struggles already faced by taxi drivers, Martin said the number of people who fail to pay and "runners" has increased.
On the tariff increase, Martin added: "Many of the customers agree that something does need to be done and understand how it's affecting us."
An impact assessment report attached to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services report revealed that the last time Neath Port Talbot saw a tariff increase was in 2019 - meaning taxi drivers had not seen a pay increase in two and a half years.
The impact assessment report adds that those most likely to be affected are the elderly, disabled and in some cases women with young children.
However, the anticipated impact to these groups is marked as 'medium'.
Although there will be an increase to the maximum permitted fare, it is not mandatory for all taxi firms to do so.
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