South Somerset could soon become the most expensive part of the county to hire a cab if drivers are allowed to increase their fares.

South Somerset District Council will shortly launch a consultation on plans to allow taxi drivers to raise their fares for the first time since 2016.

If the proposals are approved, taxi operators would go from offering the cheapest journeys in Somerset to the most expensive (based on the cost of a two-mile journey).

The consultation will last half the normal length of time to prevent taxi drivers from going out of business as a result of rising fuel prices.

The increase was discussed by the council’s licensing committee when it met virtually on Tuesday morning (June 14).

We’re in a real pickle here with the rising cost of petrol.

Out of the four district councils in Somerset, South Somerset currently has the lowest fares, with operators being able to charge £6.50 for a two-mile journey – compared to £6.80 for Mendip, Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton.

Under the proposals which will go out for consultation, the South Somerset rate will rise to £7.60 – a rise of nearly 17 per cent.

Mendip and Sedgemoor last reviewed their fares in 2019, while Somerset West and Taunton’s fares were agreed in late-December 2021.

Councillor Martin Wale – whose Blackdown and Tatworth ward comprises the villages surrounding Chard – said the rises should be implemented as soon as possible to prevent taxi drivers from going out of business.

He said: “We’re in a real pickle here with the rising cost of petrol, which we all know about, and keeping the fares down for the public who can only use cabs and haven’t got cars.

“In my opinion, for the sake of keeping cabs on the road and servicing the public, this has got to be done sooner rather than later.

“These are emergency times, and I suggest we use the minimum consultation period, which would be as fair as we can be to both sides of the problem.

“This hasn’t been reviewed since 2016 – that’s a lot of petrol under the bridge.”

Councillor Wes Read (Yeovil Summerlands) concurred: “We also have to take into account that we’ve lost a lot of bus routes as well – that will impact a little bit more on taxis as well.

“We need to do something sooner rather than later while trying to keep the price down.”

A formal consultation, lasting 14 days, will now take place before the proposals come back to the committee for final approval.