The price of using a taxi in the Highlands could be set to rise amid a review of the trade.
Highland Council’s licensing committee has recommended a number of changes to existing services as part of a review.
The proposals are now set to go out to public consultation and include increasing the basic tariff’s running costs from £1.40 to £1.50 per mile.
The committee has also suggested increasing waiting times from the current £18 per hour to £25 per hour and increasing the soiling charge from a maximum of £60 to £100.
They have also agreed to introduce a new system of booking taxis which will have to travel to collect a fare from more than three miles away, which will now be charged at the basic tariff rate.
The proposals are part of the review of the scale of maximum taxi fares in the Highlands.
Members of the public will have until early January 2017 to respond to the proposals.
The committee will make a final decision on the fares by February, with the new prices being brought into force at the end of March.
Councillor Ian Cockburn, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “Members of the licensing committee have to weigh up the differing wishes of taxi operators with the expectations of the public.
“It is important that anyone that uses taxis – especially those who depend on them for regular use – checks out the proposed new taxi tariff and makes their comments known.”
