TAXI fares in Caerphilly county borough will increase by 13 per cent by the end of the month.

Costs will rise from £3 to £3.40 for a hackney carriage journey between 7am to 7pm and 20p for each subsequent mile.

Trips taken between 7pm and 7am will cost £3.90 – up from £3.50 – with the same charge per subsequent mile.

The increase is the first time in eight years that the average taxi fares have risen in the borough, according to a council report.

“[The increase] was suggested in acknowledgement that an increase in the tariff was overdue, given the last increase was in 2010 and the valuable role that taxi and private hire vehicles undertake in respect of transport provision in the borough,” the report continued.

During an initial consultation, almost half – 47.4 per cent – of respondents from the local taxi trade voted in favour of the council’s tariff increase instead of three other options.

Ahead of a public consultation, cabinet members were informed that the increase would come into effect immediately if no objections were received.

A public consultation was subsequently launched in August, with the proposals sent to all licensed drivers working within the authority.

Only one formal objection was lodged within the same month, meaning implementation of the raised tariffs was delayed.

The objection driver had argued that the times of operation should be widened to 6am to 10pm and 10pm to 6am.

An additional comment was received via social media regarding the 7pm to 7am time period but it was not formally received by the council.

Cabinet members met on Wednesday to finally endorse the fare increase, which will come into effect from September 25.

The change means that Caerphilly will move up to 258th from 338th in the national fare tables for two-mile taxi trips in local authorities in England and Wales.

Two-mile fares in Caerphilly were previously tied with Torfaen as the third lowest in Wales.