TAXI fares in Exeter are going up by around 25 per cent after councillors heard how cabbies ‘go the extra mile’ for the city.

Members of the city council’s executive committee agreed to re-start a consultation on the move to increase fares, hearing that a previous consultation earlier this year had not been completed.

The public will be asked for their views on the rises, which will see the fares going up for the first time in three years.

The new tariff could come into effect by Christmas.

Figures shown to the committee revealed that Exeter currently has the joint fifth most expensive two-mile fare in Devon and the 133rd most expensive in England and Wales.

If the proposed increases are implemented, Exeter would have the most expensive two-mile fare level in Devon and would move into the national top 10.

At the moment the two-mile fare in Exeter is between £7.60 and £12.30, depending on the date and the time of day, with night-time journeys and occasions like Christmas being the most expensive.

If the increase goes ahead, fares will rise by an average of around 25 per cent.

The two-mile journey would cost between £9.50 and £13.55.

Fares elsewhere in Devon for the same journey vary from East Devon’s £8.69 to Mid Devon’s £6.80.

Cllr Ruth Williams (Lab, Mincinglake and Whipton) said: “The drivers provide a really important service, and it is very expensive for them to provide it. It is really important that we progress this as quickly as possible.”

And Cllr Peter Holland (Con, St Loyes) added: “They are ambassadors for our great city. They are often the first people that folk meet when they come into our city.

“They go the extra mile.”