The Real Debate Cornwall Needs
Cornwall Council is intending to pursue a unification of Hackney Carriage tariffs across the six licensing zones — a ‘one tariff for Cornwall’. But this proposal is misleading in both scope and consequence. The Council has not formally declared an intention to de-zone, yet it intends to push a policy — tariff harmonisation — that only makes practical sense if de-zoning is the intended next step.
Surely:
The conversation about de-zoning should come before any discussion of tariff harmonisation — not after, and certainly not concealed behind it.
The current zoned system reflects decades of organic development, shaped by:
- Vast differences in geography, population, and transport infrastructure.
- Localised tourism economies and seasonal demand patterns.
- Tailored tariffs that ensure viability of services, especially in rural and low-density areas.
These six distinct tariffs exist because Cornwall is not economically or geographically uniform. To harmonise them without acknowledging the wider implication — the removal of zoning — is not only flawed policy but a breach of public trust.
If de-zoning is not the intention, what public benefit can tariff harmonisation possibly serve — except to destabilise the tailored systems that work?
This leads to a very real concern shared by many in the trade: That tariff unification is being used to quietly remove the primary technical obstacle to de-zoning, allowing the Council to bypass proper consultation and debate.
This is not hypothetical. The last time Cornwall saw widespread de-zoning — in the late 1990s — the outcomes were catastrophic:
- Taxis flooded urban and profitable centres, deserting rural areas.
- Elderly and vulnerable residents were left without access to essential transport.
- Local operators collapsed due to reduced income and increased competition.
Today, those risks are even greater, with the added strain of fuel costs, driver shortages, and the looming threat from platform-based competition (e.g., Uber).
The National Guidance Backs Localised Zoning
The Department for Transport’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing: Best Practice Guidance (March 2022) does not mandate de-zoning. It recognises that:
“The Department for Transport’s Best Practice Guidance (March 2022, Section 12) recommends the abolition of taxi zones primarily to simplify administration and improve customer flexibility. However, this is a general recommendation — not a legal requirement, and the statutory procedure for changing zones remains with the local licensing authority. The guidance acknowledges zones may exist “for historical reasons” and does not mandate change where local conditions justify their retention. Cornwall, with its diverse geography, variable demand, and unique zone-based tariff evolution, clearly presents such a case..”
Cornwall clearly meets those circumstances:
- A vast, topographically fragmented area.
- Limited public transport in many zones.
- Proven harm from past de-zoning attempts.
- A system that, while not perfect, continues to serve both operators and the public effectively.
To ignore this guidance — and the lived reality of operators and passengers — would be not only reckless, but a dereliction of local duty.
Conclusion: Have the Real Conversation First
If Cornwall Council genuinely believes de-zoning is in the public interest, it must make that case publicly and honestly — through a formal consultation, not a stealth campaign.
Until then, the trade must reject any attempt to unify tariffs, because:
- It pre-empts a decision not yet debated.
- It undermines zone-specific service models.
- It risks irreversible damage to rural service access.
Change must be honest. Consultation must be complete. And any conversation about tariffs must wait until the real issue — zoning — is brought into the open.
Bottom Line for Drivers
Be careful what you wish for! De-zoning doesn’t offer a level playing field — it removes local safeguards and risks turning a managed system into a chaotic, high-stakes competition. For many drivers, especially those in seasonal and rural areas, large companies move in, it could be the end of the road.