Taxi fares in Rye could be set to rise later this year, with residents soon to be asked for their views on plans to increase the maximum charges for Hackney Carriage journeys.
On Monday 15 June, Rother District Council’s cabinet agreed to launch a public consultation on proposals that would see maximum taxi fares increase by around 10%. The move follows support for the increase from the council’s Licensing and General Purposes Committee in May, after members considered the growing costs faced by taxi drivers.
Council officers told the cabinet that current fares have remained unchanged since April 2023. Since then, the price of diesel has risen significantly. In April 2023, diesel cost around 161p per litre, compared with 191p per litre in late April 2026 – an increase of almost 19%.
However, Richard Parker-Harding, the council’s lead officer for licensing, said fuel prices had “fluctuated enormously in the past few months.” He noted that the current average diesel price, at around 181p per litre, represented a smaller increase when compared with prices three years ago.
The proposed fare rise is intended to help taxi drivers keep pace with increasing operating costs. If no objections are received during the consultation period, the new fare card is expected to come into force in October.
Image Credits: James Stewart .