A 21 working day period of consultation will begin on Friday 11 December for people to express their views to Isle of Wight Council on a proposed new pricing structure for taxi fares. The consultation period will end at 1700 on Wednesday 13 January 2010.

Taxi firms on the Isle of Wight presently can only charge a set amount when starting a journey and also per mile depending on the time of day.

Under the new proposed tariff structure, the prices would be adjusted as follows. The figures in brackets are the current fares.

TARIFF 1 (0800 – 2230)

£3.00 (£3.00 current fare) for the first mile or part of a mile then 50p (40p current fare) every subsequent quarter of a mile. Waiting time every 60 seconds will be 40p (30p current fare) and the cost for each additional passenger over 4 will be 50p.

TARIFF 2 (0600 – 0800 and 2230 – Midnight)

£4.50 (£4.50) for the first mile or part of a mile then 65p (60p) every subsequent quarter of a mile. Waiting time every 60 seconds will be 65p (45p) and the cost for each additional passenger over 4 will be 75p.

TARIFF 3 (Midnight – 0600)

£6.00 (£6.00) for the first mile or part of a mile then 85p (60p) every subsequent quarter of a mile. Waiting time every 60 seconds will be 85p (60p) and the cost for each additional passenger over 4 will be £1.00.

Fouling of a vehicle will be a charge of up to £70 (£60).

The 21 day consultation will take place after approval was given by the council’s Licensing and General Purposes Committee on 30 November, who voted to put the proposed pricing structure out to public consultation.

Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member with responsibility for licensing Barry Abraham said

“It is important that taxi fares on the Isle of Wight are fair for both the consumer and the businesses.

“The current pricing structure has been in place since April 2004 and a lot has happened since then in respect to fuel costs, insurance and general living costs and we feel it’s the right time to look again at the fares and seek the views of the public”

An online questionnaire can be completed at www.iwight.com/surveys/hackneycarriagefares2009 or alternatively a paper copy can be obtained from the Licensing Section, Jubilee Stores, The Quay, Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2EH  telephone 01983 823159. This form will be available from 11 December through until the end of the consultation.