Black cabs in West Lancashire could increase fares after council officers approved a request from drivers suffering from increasing fuel prices.
A letter sent to the council on behalf of drivers said: "We can no longer absorb the ever increasing cost of diesel."

The current fare is £2 for under 800 yards on a normal working day or weekend rising to £2.50 between midnight and 5am.

Cab firms requested that this rise to £2.30 and £2.90 to cover increasing costs and council officers have agreed, proposing the increase should take effect on July 8.

Under the new plan 10p would be added to the fare for every 145 yards rather than the current 160.

Under the new system a mile journey would cost around £3 instead of  £2.60, which it is presently, but charges for waiting time would remain the same.

Holiday fares would also increase.

Charges for soiling would remain at £20.

Meanwhile, council officers have also proposed that Moorgate in Ormskirk should receive an additional black cab rank.

The rank would have two additional spaces for Hackney Carriages from 6pm to 6am and outside these hours would be used as an additional loading in space for the indoor market.
 
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