![\"Wirral](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Wirral-Taxi-drivers-Photo-by-Colin-Lane.jpg\")
Wirral taxi drivers lined up near ASDA in Birkenhead(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nLast year, drivers who spoke to the ECHO said they were worried about costs and one criticised the council as out of touchWirral taxi drivers lined up near ASDA in Birkenhead(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
Hackney carriage day rates could see a rise as a union representing taxi drivers issues a warning to Wirral<\/a> Council ahead of a vote.<\/p>\n Unite the Union has put forward a proposal that would see some fares increase in the borough after the local authority kept rates the same in 2024. Rates for taxis during the day would see an increase with people paying \u00a33 more for a ten-mile trip.<\/p>\n Night rates would stay largely the same with a slight increase for trips that are between three and four miles long. This is the same for bank holiday rates.<\/p>\n Christmas and New Year rates would also see an increase with costs going up by \u00a31.20 for a one mile trip. A new charge for trips more than four miles beyond Wirral\u2019s borders is also being brought in, starting at \u00a37.70 for one mile while a \u00a35 Liverpool drop off charge is scrapped.<\/a><\/p>\n Other charges include 30p for every minute left waiting, \u00a31 for each animal unless it is an assistance dog, \u00a35 for bulky items, and \u00a335 fouling charge. If councillors decide to approve the changes put forward by Unite, it will go out for public consultation.<\/p>\n For a ten-mile trip, the proposals fees in Wirral are generally less expensive than Liverpool or St Helens<\/a>. However, they are generally more expensive than Sefton<\/a>, Knowsley<\/a>, and Cheshire West and Chester Council.<\/p>\n The proposed rates will all be considered at a Regulatory and General Purposes committee on June 4. In a letter published by the council ahead of the meeting, Unite the Union criticised the council for making a decision over taxi fares last year<\/a> with no consultation with drivers.<\/p>\n Some drivers felt the decision to keep day rates the same was an effective pay cut. Last year, drivers who spoke to the ECHO<\/a> said they were worried about costs and one criticised the council as out of touch.<\/a><\/p>\n According to the union, Wirral has around 140 hackney carriage drivers with around 85% of those working only during the day. Unite also claimed 20mph speed limits had an impact on earnings as fewer fares could be completed in a shift.<\/p>\n The union said the council\u2019s decision last year appeared to ignore their concerns, adding: \u201cWe feel this is a slap in the face to the taxi trade.\u201d The union questioned whether there was any point in calling a branch meeting to discuss the issues for the council to then go against this due to objections arguing the previous fares were \u201ctotally unworkable.\u201d<\/p>\n The union said: \u201cThis is not democracy in any sense of the word. This has angered the drivers. Many are now talking about leaving the trade and driving private hire vehicles as the operating costs are considerably lower and there are no highly expensive replacement vehicles to worry about.<\/p>\n \u201cMoreover, it is a simple process to get a Wolverhampton badge and plate the same week, and it is all much cheaper than Wirral. However, I feel there is an opportunity to put this right and hopefully grow the hackney fleet to a healthy level.\u201d<\/p>\n