Taxi fares to rise under council plans

Taxi fares are to go up. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

Edinburgh City Council has announced plans to implement a general fare increase of 2.1 per cent.

The above-inflation rise will see the cost of a two-mile taxi journey increase to £6.60 – nearly 20p above the Scottish national average.

Christmas and New Year revellers may also face hikes of up to 40p for journeys as short as half a mile by next year, although city officials have decided to axe controversial plans for a late night “party tariff” on the grounds that it might discourage people from using taxis to get home safely.

But Cllr Cameron Rose, leader of the Edinburgh Conservative group, said that late night fares would continue to remain under scrutiny in the coming months.

He said: “People looking for taxis will welcome the rejection of another fare tariff after midnight. It keeps things simple and is good news for users.

“But the rate for after midnight should be kept under review because taxi drivers need an incentive to work anti-social hours after midnight.”