Cabbies want fares to increase by 60pc

Taxi fares in South Staffordshire could soar by 60 per cent it has emerged. The cost of a seven-mile trip in a black cab could jump from an average of about £8.20 to around £13.10.

Drivers have asked for the increase, saying they are struggling to make ends meet because of a huge rise in overheads, including the cost of fuel and licensing fees charged by the council, since the last fare hike in 2001.

Currently the fare is £1.50 for first 680 yards before rising by an extra 10 pence each 10th of a mile for journeys between 7.30am and 11.30pm.

Under the changes the initial charge in a black cab would be £3.50 for the first mile and 16 pence for each 10th of a mile after that between 6am and 11pm.

District council chiefs will meet on Thursday where they will be asked to approve plans. Council officers say the proposed increase could add to the economic pressures faced by residents during the recession but say at the same time the drivers are struggling and the charges are well below that of neighbouring authorities such as Wolverhampton where an average seven mile trip would cost £13.88.

Councillors at Thursday's licensing committee will also have the option of introducing a charge but making the increase less than recommended. There are currently seven hackney carriages working in the borough.

David Pattison, head of legal and licensing services at South Staffordshire Council said: "The current charges for hackney carriages haven't been changed since around 2001 due to so few black cabs being registered within the district.

"Those hackney carriage owners operating within the district have however asked for an increase in fares to cover the rising costs they've incurred over the past few years. Hackney carriages cannot charge more than the council's set rate and currently those charges will only just cover their expenses.

"If the levels are set at the recommended new rate hackney carriages can still chose to charge less than the council set rate."