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Taxi meter prices could rise across Ipswich after 72% of responding drivers back increase
Hackney carriage fares in Ipswich could rise from 13 October 2026 under proposals designed to help taxi drivers meet higher fuel, insurance and vehicle operating costs.
Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive will consider the proposed tariff changes on 8 September. If approved, the new fare table would be advertised through a statutory public consultation before it could take effect.
The changes would apply only to council-licensed hackney carriages. Private hire operators would remain responsible for determining their own charges.
Under Tariff 1, which covers daytime journeys, the metered price of a two-mile trip would rise from £8 to £8.10. The increase would be 1.25% at that distance, rising to 3.2% for a 20-mile journey.
A two-mile journey under the night tariff would increase from £10 to £10.10, while the Christmas and New Year tariff would rise from £11.80 to £11.90 for the same distance. The increases at 20 miles would be 3.2% and 3.1% respectively.
Rather than applying a uniform percentage increase to each fare, the council would shorten the initial and subsequent distance intervals used by taximeters. Waiting-time charges would increase by 3.24%.
The figure reflects the Consumer Prices Index increase recorded during the 12 months to June 2026. Ipswich has had an agreement with taxi trade representatives since 2011 that fare applications should initially be assessed against CPI unless other circumstances justify a different approach.
The review followed an application from the chair of the Ipswich Station Taxi Tenants Association. The association consulted 146 drivers, receiving 130 responses. Of those, 94 supported an increase and 36 opposed it, giving a 72% majority among respondents. A further 46 drivers did not reply.
Council officers have recommended that the Executive approve the proposal for formal advertisement. The report said an increase could “mitigate increased costs for hackney cab drivers in light of increased insurance and fuel costs” and help maintain vehicle availability.
It warned that retaining existing fares could place further pressure on the trade and potentially cause drivers to leave the market. Any reduction in the fleet could affect the availability of accessible transport as well as general taxi capacity.
Ipswich currently has 150 licensed hackney carriages, of which 35, or 23%, are wheelchair accessible. The council’s equality assessment found no significant disproportionate effect from the proposed increase, although it acknowledged that detailed information about passengers using accessible vehicles was unavailable.
The proposed £8.10 daytime price for a two-mile trip would place Ipswich below Cambridge at £8.60 and Colchester at £8.40, but above Chelmsford at £7.70. The council said Ipswich would move from 81st to joint 78th most expensive among 344 authorities in the national fare comparison.
If the Executive approves publication, members of the taxi trade and the public will be able to submit objections or alternative proposals. Under Section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the consultation period must run for at least 14 days.
Subject to there being no outstanding objections, officers intend to introduce the revised tariffs on or after 13 October. Unresolved representations could lead to the proposal being modified or returned to the Executive for further consideration.
