TAXI drivers in the city have said the trade will die out if the council does not agree to increase fares.

Worcester taxi bosses have requested a rise in fares – which according to drivers could see prices increase by as much as 40 per cent – for the first time since 2017.

The basic fare is currently £3.60 for the first three quarters of a mile and 10p for every 100 metres thereafter.

Dozens of frustrated taxi drivers attended a meeting of the council’s licensing and environmental health committee to criticise the council for not discussing proposed fare increases sooner.

Taxi driver Mohammad Sajad said it was “unacceptable” that councillors would not be reviewing a potential rise, which he had discussed with the council at the end of last year, until at least June.

“It is unfair on the trade what is going on,” he told the city council’s licensing and environmental health committee at meeting in the Guildhall on Monday (March 7).

“Even if you disagree [with a fare increase] at least [we would have] something for you to agree with or disagree on.”

Haris Saleem from Worcester Taxi Drivers Association said the industry was “suffering” and a rise in fares was desperately needed.

“For the last five years we have not had a fare increase,” he said.

“If we wait until June I think the trade will die or people will be looking for other jobs. That I can assure you.”

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Lloyd Griffiths, the council’s director for operations, homes and communities, said a request had been made by the city’s taxi drivers for a fare increase but was too late to be discussed by the committee but would be ready for its next meeting in June.

“That information has come forward, but it is our job as officers to put in front of members official information for a decision to be made.

“At the point of reaching this committee, we weren’t able to do that. In all fairness to the drivers, the information has been submitted but we can’t just put that into your laps without some sort of context.”