Royal Ascot taxi fares to increase at future race weeks

50 per cent during race week to help cab drivers with ‘nightmare’ journeys.

This comes after bosses at the Royal Borough of Windsor of Maidenhead (RBWM) introduced a trial run for the new price formula earlier this year.

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During race week 2019, which ran from June 18 to June 22, taxi drivers were allowed to charge 50 per cent more for journeys from Ascot to within the Royal Borough.

Greg Nelson, licensing officer at RBWM, said the feedback from drivers was that it was “very helpful.”

He added: “It was good for drivers.

“Nobody else seemed to have any comments for or against it.”

The move, which was given the green light by councillors at a RBWM meeting on Tuesday, October 8, means a fare from the event to Windsor increases by more than £10.

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Initial plans for the new prices came about after taxi drivers complained to the council about the ‘45 minute to an hour’ drive to get back to Ascot Racecourse taxi rank after returning from another journey at a meeting in April.

One taxi driver, who has been taking racegoers back and forth from Ascot for ten years, told councillors in April that the current rates drivers are allowed to charge were “not sufficient enough”.

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All councillors but one backed the price hike, after Cllr John Davey said: “Drivers have to earn a reasonable living and getting in and out of Ascot is a nightmare.”