Maximum taxi fares are set to remain the same in Argyll and Bute after councillors agreed to make no changes.
Taxi operators across the area were consulted as part of the council’s taxi fare scale review, with a new structure required by late October.
The majority of operators who responded supported no increase to fares, although one councillor remarked that the consultation had a ‘very poor’ response.
The current maximum starting tariffs are £3.45 between 7am and 10pm, £4.14 between 10pm and 7am, and £4.83 on public holidays, with increases of 23p every 176 yards, 150 yards and 125 yards respectively.
A report by executive director Douglas Hendry to the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee said that letters and questionnaires were sent to all taxi operators – the public was also consulted but only one person replied.
Cllr Jan Brown said: “I feel that as it was a very poor response, I would be happy to leave the fares as they are. Most people who did respond wanted fares left as they were anyway.”
And Cllr Audrey Forrest, added: “I think that given the current situation that people find themselves in financially, it would be a good idea to keep prices as they are.
“A lot of people rely on taxis for shopping and other activities, so it would be better to leave them as they stand.”
The proposal will now be advertised, and responses invited before the committee next meets on August 23.
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