THE slight increase in taxi fares in North Ayrshire is not as bad as it seems, two local drivers claimed this week.

Last week, we reported that fares would be rising in December and we were more than happy to speak to local taxi drivers about the increase and why they felt it was unfairly reported.

The decision to put forward an increase, the first since 2014, was made by North Ayrshire Council’s Licensing Committee and was agreed following public consultation. But the drivers are keen to highlight that the only notable rise is just 20p.

One said: “The only change with the flat rate is that it is going from £2.60 to £2.80 “The only change with Tariff 2 is the 6am to 7am. “The zone charges have been in place for at least the last 30 years, this is not new.

“It’s been there ever since I have been doing taxis.

“The festive period is double tariff 1.

“At the last increase, the council brought in double fares on Boxing Day and the second of January, which the taxi drivers didn’t want. So now they have taken they two dates out of it, it is just what it had always been on they days.

“Taxis used to get Bank Holidays before they took that off us, so they have just reinstated that.

“It’s not the big fare hike that has been reported, the only increase is 20p on the flag fall and 10p per mile on Tariff 1.”

They are keen to highlight the fact that the increase is made by the council, not the drivers and that they are the ones who pay the price.

The driver, who doesn’t want to be named, added: “The last fare increase was in 2014 where it went from £2.50 to £2.60, so I think it should made known that the increase is only 20 pence.

“It made it sound like we were overcharging, we are not charging any more apart from 20p on the flagfall.

“For example, Saltcoats Station to Largs is 13 miles, currently you would be charged £24.60.

“The new Tariff 2, which it would be, you will now be charged £24.80, it’s 20p.”

The new fares are set to come into being on December 11 of this year.