Worcester cab fares could jump 16% as drivers push for higher tariffs to cover inflation and costs
- Perry Richardson
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Worcester City Council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee is being asked to begin a statutory consultation on proposals to increase the city’s hackney carriage taxi fares following a request from the Worcester Taxi Association (WTA).
The proposed changes would raise the initial flag fare on Tariff One from £4.30 to £5.00 and on Tariff Two from £5.50 to £6.40, representing increases of around 16%.
The request comes more than four years after Worcester’s current fare table took effect in May 2022. Trade representatives told a Taxi Forum meeting in May 2026 that a review was needed due to higher vehicle running costs, increases in licence fees, recent fuel price rises and wider cost-of-living pressures.
The report highlights that while petrol prices are slightly lower than they were in May 2022, diesel prices have increased by more than 4.5%. Officers also pointed to cumulative UK inflation of around 20-22% between 2022 and 2026 as a factor that members should consider when assessing whether a fare increase is justified.
If councillors support the proposal, the council must publish a formal notice and allow a minimum 14-day period for public comments and objections under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. If no objections are received, the revised fares could be implemented following the consultation process. Officers have proposed that all licensed hackney carriage vehicles adopt any approved tariff changes by 1 August 2026.
The report also warns of the need to balance support for the taxi trade with passenger affordability. It notes that setting fares too low could affect taxi availability, while excessive increases could discourage use, particularly among elderly, disabled and lower-income passengers who rely on taxis as an essential transport service.
