Taxi fares are set to increase for larger groups of passengers in Bracknell.
Cabs, traditionally known as hackney carriages, can be hailed from the spot with no need to book.
Drivers typically park their cabs in ranks, which can be found outside the train station, next to Waitrose, and outside the Sainsbury’s in Ringmead.
The fares for how much a driver can charge for journeys are proposed by drivers and set by Bracknell Forest Council.
The tariffs are divided into three time periods: 7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday; 11pm to 7am overnight, on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 6pm until midnight; and a third tariff from Christmas Day to 7am on Boxing Day.
For typical journeys during the day, charges start at £5.20 for the first mile, with £2.60 for each future mile.
This goes up to a maximum of £3.60 for up to 415 yards travelled or 122.96 seconds of the journey, or a combination of time and distance, and 20p for each subsequent 135 yards or every 40 seconds of time elapsed.
Meanwhile, for typical journeys overnight, the maximum charge is £4.80 for the same distance travelled and 30p for additional yards and 40 seconds of travel.
The existing tariffs have been in place since June 2022.
Drivers want to change the wording, which states on the chart: “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, drivers are proposing to introduce new tariffs for cabs that carry between five and eight passengers.
If this change is implemented, the maximum for a journey during the day would go up to £4.80 and 30p for extra yards and time spent.
During the night, the charge for five to eight passengers would go up to £6.40, with an additional 40p for extra distance and driving time per 135 yards travelled.
The proposed changes to tariffs for more than four passengers would create new tariffs '1a', '2b' and '3c'.
Furthermore, the passengers are expected to pay emission zone charges, such as the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) and airport drop-off charges.
This is significant as Heathrow Airport is approximately 23 miles away and is within the ULEZ.
However, these charges have been established for several years, and are not new proposals from the taxi trade.
Does the town centre need more taxi ranks?
Explaining the proposed changes, Damian James, assistant director for contract services, said: “The proposal from the local taxi trade is to make the full charge more visible from the outset when vehicles are carrying five or more passengers. The current fare chart states ‘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. This will however not be shown on the taximeter’.
“The trade has reported that this causes confusion for passengers, and they would prefer the information to be visible on the meters as stated in Appendix A (1A, 2B, and 3C). There is no change to fares in this proposal.”
The changes to the charging system for journeys for five to eight passengers will be discussed at a meeting of the council's licensing and safety committee on Wednesday, February 11.
This discussion will take place ahead of the council's Labour cabinet considering the proposed changes next month.
The licensing and safety committee are expected to agree on recommendations that will feature in a report to the cabinet.
