Taxi fares in Bracknell are set to rise for larger groups.
Hackney carriages can be hailed from the rank without a booking. Drivers usually wait at ranks outside the train station, next to Waitrose and outside the Sainsbury’s in Ringmead.
Fares are proposed by drivers and fixed by Bracknell Forest Council. Tariffs are split into three periods: 7am–11pm (daily), 11pm–7am (overnight, and Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve from 6pm–midnight), and Christmas Day to 7am on Boxing Day.
Day fares start at £5.20 for the first mile, then £2.60 per additional mile. The chart also lists rates of up to £3.60 for shorter increments (up to 415 yards or 122.96 seconds), and 20p for each further 135 yards or every 40 seconds.
Overnight, the maximum for the same short increment is £4.80, with 30p for extra yards and 40 seconds.
Drivers want to replace the current wording that says: "When this vehicle is carrying more than four passengers, a surcharge of 50 per cent will be applied to the fare shown on the meter at the end of the journey." Instead they propose new tariffs for vehicles carrying five to eight passengers.
Under the proposals, day fares for five to eight passengers would cap at £4.80 for the short increment, with 30p for additional yards/time. Overnight the charge would rise to £6.40, with 40p for each extra 135 yards or time increment.
The proposed new bands would be added as tariffs ‘1a’, ‘2b’ and ‘3c’.
Passengers will still be expected to pay existing emission zone and airport drop-off charges, such as ULEZ — significant because Heathrow is about 23 miles away and inside the ULEZ — but these are not new proposals from the taxi trade.
The changes to fares for five to eight passengers will be discussed by the council’s licensing and safety committee on Wednesday 11 February, ahead of a report to the council’s Labour cabinet next month. The committee is expected to agree recommendations for that report.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
