TAXI passengers in York will be reaching deeper into their pockets as fares are set to rise.

Charges for hiring, distance travelled, waiting and fouling are all expected to go up.

If approved, the revised fare structure will come into affect at the beginning of next month.

The higher prices are a result of increasing vehicle maintenance, tax and insurance costs for taxi firms and drivers.

A survey found that York's existing fares were relatively low, coming 185th highest out of 377 of local authorities.

Hiring charges are expected to rise by 5.6 per cent from £1.80 for 493 metres to £1.90, despite a requested by York Taxi Proprietors Association for an 11 per cent increase.

Distance rates will rise by three per cent, from 10p for 139 metres to 10p for 135 metres. The race-day charge is also set to rise by 6.5 per cent, from £4.60 for three kilometres to £4.90.

The bank holiday premium for users will also rise from 50p to 60p, and the times will be altered to cover from 7am to 5am the following day.

A complicated formula is used by City of York Council to calculate the rates charged to customers.

A three-year average has been used to dampen extreme fluctuations in costs caused by fuel price variations. York Taxi Owners and Drivers Federation secretary Trevor Martin requested that the fouling charge be increased to £30 in a letter to the council.

He said that although this would still fail to cover the cost of valeting and loss of work, it would reduce the cost to drivers.

But an increase of £2 to £23 for the one-off charge has been proposed by council officers.

City of York Council members will meet to discuss the proposals on Thursday.

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, April 06, 2002