Rochford is raising taxi start fares by 50p from October, with critics saying short journeys used by older and mobility-impaired residents take the biggest percentage hit.
Greatest Hits Radio / Echo coverage matches the licensing decision: Monday–Saturday daytime first 440 yards from £4 to £4.50 from 1 October, first rise since May 2024, with later yardage rates unchanged. Councillor Angela Sutton flagged an immediate 12.5% hit on brief trips versus a small bump on longer ones, questioning why running rates were not adjusted for fuel instead. Chair Tina Hughes backed supporting drivers’ rising costs through the flag increase.