Ceredigion County Council has gone out to consultation on a proposed rise in the cost of a taxi journey in the county after taxi firms called on the county council to raise fares amid concerns about the long-term sustainability of the trade.

Ceredigion County Council’s Licensing Committee on 12 February discussed a plan to raise taxi fares in Ceredigion.

A report for the meeting said that a request for a taxi fares review in the county was submitted in August last year.

The last time a review took place in Ceredigion was 2022.

The suggested tariff increase in the request included adding a minimum of £1 to fares for each first half-mile and then 2p to each subsequent tenth of a mile.

That plan would “represent an overall average increase of approximately 23.7 per cent across all fare components,” the report said.

The request said the “changes reflect inflation in running costs and bring Ceredigion’s fares closer to neighbouring authorities such as Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd.”

The consultation – open now and running until 8 May – sets out options for a proposed rise, including a seven per cent blanket rise, as well as the suggestions from taxi firms.

Ceredigion County Council said the proposed increases “reflect rising costs and would make Ceredigion’s fares more similar to nearby councils like Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd.”

Ceredigion currently ranks 226th out of 341 councils for the price of a two-mile taxi journey.

In Ceredigion it currently costs £6.80, while the UK average is £7.40.

If the taxi company’s suggested increase was accepted, a two-mile journey would cost £8.25. Ceredigion would move up to 64th place.

A survey of taxi firms found that 88 per cent favoured an increase, with almost half requesting a 10 per cent increase in fees.

A 10 per cent rise would increase a two-mile journey in Ceredigion from £6.80 to £7.45.

The Licensing Committee recommended a seven per cent rise “instead of the higher rises requested” and recommended a public consultation “to gather wider views.”

The licensing committee report said: “As part of the taxi fare review, a questionnaire was issued to all licensed drivers and operators in Ceredigion to assess views on and support for a proposed fare increase.

“It was distributed to 275 recipients and open from 11 November to 19 December 2025, receiving 50 responses.

“The responses show strong and consistent support among taxi drivers for a fare increase, driven by rising costs, low earnings, and concerns about the long-term sustainability of the trade.

“Current fares, particularly daytime rates, are widely viewed as insufficient, with many drivers earning near or below minimum wage despite long hours.

“Respondents broadly agreed that increases across all tariffs are justified, with higher rates for unsocial hours to reflect additional costs and reduced availability, and that higher fares would support fair pay, driver retention, improved vehicle standards, safer and more reliable services, and local economic benefits.”

The consultation is available on the Ceredigion County Council website until 8 May.