TAXI rides could become much cheaper after a borough’s cab firms proposed to cut the minimum fare.

Members of the Pendle Taxi Association are discussing slashing the fee from £3 to £1.50.

If the proposal is approved, 14 of the borough’s 20 registered taxi firms will bring in the reduction. Six cab firms in Pendle do not belong to the association and would make their own decision on charges.

The planned change would also not apply to so-called ‘one-man operators’.

Shaf Ahmed, a spokesman for the association, said the planned change would of course be good news for taxi customers in Pendle.

But he also insisted it was a difficult decision for operators because halving the minimum fare would bring in less income, with firms facing maintenance costs to meet vehicle safety standards.

He called on Pendle Council to monitor the number of taxi operators in the borough.

Mr Ahmed said: “The council needs to monitor how many private hire vehicles are needed in the borough. The fundamental point is that the council allows so many private hire vehicles into the borough without asking if there are already too many.

“The council needs to ask operators if they are reasonably priced, if they are in line with prices.”

Pendle Council licenses taxi firms and impose safety standards on private hire vehicles but does not impose a price structure.

Mr Ahmed said: “The taxi trade has been screaming out for the council to impose set fares.

“The problems come when the council allows firms to come in with a lower fare.”

Mr Ahmed said that even before any reduction, the current minimum fare of £3 is very low from the perspective of company owners wanting to make a living.

He said: “Three pounds is nothing in our trade. It should be a lot higher than that.”

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Borough Council, acknowledged that any price drop would be a boost for customers but said meeting safety standards was paramount.

He said: “In terms of setting the fares, that is down to the trade. However, if the firms do bring this in, I believe that would be at the cost of safety and we will not compromise on safety.”