GOT A TAXI ISSUE , TALK ABOUT IT HERE!
Finally, after 3 years of hard graft, we have the booking fee addition to the table of fares ‘for advance bookings only’, which now hopefully regularises the legal position for those undertaking advanced booking work and charging inline with private hire prices, with the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976.
Here is the new 2026 A5 Tariff Card for those like me who don’t have the paper size the council create it on: 2026 Tariff Card – Restormel
Just received from Cornwall Airport:
There are now 12 month and 6 month taxi permit options available this year. The price for a full year will be £175 and £100 respectively (plus VAT). They will run 1 April to 31 March each year.
However, this year’s permit 2026-27 will only be 10 months running until 31/3/2027, therefore the permit for this year is priced pro-rata at £145 (£174 with VAT).
The number of permits available are restricted, and on a first come first served basis because of the limited space in the bus lane so act fast if you want to sign up.
There is also a 6 month option being tried as feedback suggested this could be popular.
You can apply for a taxi permit by contacting this email address: parking@cornwallairportnewquay.com
You already know the risks around de-zoning in Cornwall. You’ve seen it, you’ve engaged with it, and many of you have objected.
Despite the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation, is this the next step anyway?
You need to read this – you have just 11 days to respond!
Earlier today – Thursday 5th March 2026 – the Cornwall Council, Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on Cornwall Council’s Taxi Zone Consultation.
After discussion, the Committee voted unanimously to recommend Option A – retaining the existing six taxi zones – to Cabinet.
Members noted that the consultation received 413 responses, with 72.6% supporting retention of the current zoning structure rather than amalgamating the county into a single taxi area. Although officers noted that the consultation did not constitute a referendum, councillors stated that a result of that scale was nevertheless difficult to ignore.
During the discussion, councillors were particularly conscious of the potential impact on rural communities, including the availability of taxi services for elderly and more isolated residents. They also voiced concern over taxis swarming to ‘honeypot’ areas at different times of the year, whilst abandoning their own areas. Several members also highlighted that the decision would be irreversible, with no lawful mechanism to reinstate taxi zones once removed.
A number of councillors expressed caution about making such a permanent structural change where there is no clear evidence that the current system is failing, and no case had been presented to demonstrate that it is, with the view expressed that “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
The matter will now proceed to Cabinet, which will make the final decision.
Further updates will follow as the process continues.
The report pack for the Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee (5 March 2026) has now been published, and it contains the headline results of the Taxi Zone Consultation.
This is the first time we have seen the official breakdown of responses.
In practical terms, nearly three-quarters of respondents opposed de-zoning Cornwall.
That is a clear and significant majority!
The published report makes several important points:
Many consultation responses raised concerns about:
The report recognises these concerns but also acknowledges that mitigation options are limited if zones are removed.
That is a significant policy consideration.
Regardless of the outcome, one issue becomes increasingly important:
If de-zoning proceeds, there must be clarity around tariff structure and booking fees.
The removal of zones would substantially increase reliance on pre-booked work. That needs to sit clearly and lawfully within the framework of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Even under the current six-zone system, clarity around booking fee mechanisms is already essential.
If the operational landscape changes, that clarity becomes even more important for:
This will be a key issue during any future unified tariff consultation.
This consultation result shows strong engagement from the trade and wider community.
Whatever the final decision, it is vital that:
We will continue to monitor developments and update members as this progresses.