TAXI FARES in Rossendale are set to rise by 10 per cent after members of the valley's taxi association put forward new proposals.

Rossendale Borough Council have justified the increase in Hackney Carriage and Private Hire fares after councillors voted against any increases for the past three years.

Cabbies are set to charge customers £2.20 for the first mile travelled -- up from £2 and £1.60 for every mile travelled thereafter.

The initial proposals put forward to the licensing committee were to increase tariffs to £2.10 - which were thrown out when Rossendale Taxi Association put together the new tariff scale.

Elaine Newsome, Rossendale Borough Council's Licensing Administrative Assistant, said: "This was part of an automatic review that's undertaken annually. Last year members decided to retain the current prices.

"These prices have been held for the past three years despite the fact that there have still been the traditional increases in insurance and operating costs."

Jim Back, owner of Bacup Taxis who has private hire and hackney cabs, said the increases are a necessary evil.

Jim, who is also chairman of Rossendale Taxi Association, said: "We don't like having to put up prices but we have to keep in line with our increased costs. For the past three years we have kept to the same prices. Anybody travelling out of the Valley to places like Manchester, we can pre-arrange the price."

Prices in neighbouring authorities for the first mile travelled are:

Burnley Council -- £2.25

Hyndburn Council -- £2.80

Rochdale Council -- £2.20

Bury Council -- £2.30.

The proposals will now be advertised for public consultation and providing there aren't any objections they will come into affect from April.