Carlisle taxi and private hire drivers say standards and pay have collapsed, pressing Cumberland Council for better consultation and viable fares.
PHTM coverage of the Carlisle 2022 Taxi and Private Hire Association meeting quotes secretary Chris Bray: the trade has “nosedived” since the early 2000s, new conditions arrived without proper consult, many earn below minimum wage after rental and fuel, garage costs are up ~70% in three years, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles are scarce. Harmonising Allerdale/Copeland with Carlisle would not raise city meters. The council says it engages the trade, keeps policies safety-focused and was progressing a September 2026 executive tariff review.