New Wirral taxi tariffs to charge extra £5 for Liverpool drop off

Drivers say charging an extra £5 in the city will factor in loss of earnings when they are stuck in traffic

Wirral taxi tariffs are set to become the highest in Merseyside with a new charge brought in for people being dropped off in Liverpool.

Drivers say charging an extra £5 in the city will factor in loss of earnings when they are stuck in traffic.

The new tariffs are being brought in as hackney carriage drivers represented by Unite the Union said insurance and tyre costs had also dramatically increased.

Fares will also increase over shorter distances, but reduce on bank holidays.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports it will cost 40p more to travel one mile and £3.60 more to go ten miles.

Rates will also increase by 7% to go one mile at night and 20% more to go ten miles.

Currently it costs £5 to go one mile in Liverpool, £4.70 in Sefton, £4.30 in St Helens, £4.80 in Knowsley, and £4.60 in Ellesmere Port and Neston but it will cost £5.40 to go one mile in Wirral with a new £5 charge added to any fare dropping off in Liverpool plus the fees to return through the tunnel.

On bank holidays it will be cheaper to go five miles or more but on Christmas Day and the New Year, it will cost £9.30 and £47.70 to go one mile and ten miles respectively.

The new fares will be the highest in the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Unite said if the traffic is bad it can take an hour to get back to Wirral from Liverpool

Gary Gregory, representing around 85 drivers for Unite, said: "In a perfect world, you wouldn't put the fares up.

"We've been hit recently with a massive increase in insurance. For some reason motor insurance has gone up 30% but public hire has gone up by 45%."

Explaining the new Liverpool charge, he said: "If the traffic's bad, it can take an hour to get back. We can't work in Liverpool, we can't pick anybody else up so that's been factored in to pay for that lost time."

He added: "The fares are non-economical, they're not viable to do. You get £16 for the fare, you take £4 for the tunnel and that leaves you £12, and you're working for an hour and a half. That's not even minimum wage."

Mr Gregory also warned that traffic congestion was an issue along the Strand, adding: "When Everton open that stadium, it's going to be a no-go area.

"You can't expect the taxi driver to sit for two hours waiting to get back to where you can pick up legally and not be compensated."

The fare increases, approved by Wirral Council, are subject to a 14-day consultation.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]