SOUTHAMPTON taxi users will have to dig deeper from October.

An application by Clive Johnson, chairman of South-ampton Taxi Consultative Council, to raise charges was passed unanimously by city council licensing chiefs.

Mr Johnson, pictured, who represents many of the 233 licensed Hackney carriages in South-ampton, also warned that due to mounting public liability costs, cabbies could be forced to submit higher fare tariffs to the council before the end of the year.

He said: "The main need for an increase was the ridiculous price of fuel, but the public liability bill for taxi firms and drivers is now at £5m a year and could rise to £10m a year.

"We are held liable for a passenger's safety right until they step through their front door. If we drop them off and they fall over by their gate we could be sued. It may sound crazy but legal actions are becoming increasingly common.

"People who use taxis for a short ride to the shops won't be affected by fare increases. We do not take putting up fares lightly. We only suggest what we feel is absolutely necessary."

The main changes will see a 20p increase in journeys of between one and four miles from 6am to 11pm; a 40p rise for distances between five and eight miles; a 60p rise for nine-mile journeys: and a 80p increase for journeys of ten miles.

Anyone travelling by taxi between 11pm and 6am will need to fork out from 25p extra for a one to four-mile journey to £1 for journeys of ten miles.

Objections over the new tariffs are due to be heard by the council licensing panel on September 12. The new charges will come into effect in October.

During the panel meeting, Councillor Eric Pointer urged Mr Johnson to pass on the public's anger over belated extras at the end of taxi journeys. He said: "The boundary charges annoy a lot of people because they often aren't told before setting off that they will have to pay more. Things can get ugly. Drivers not wearing a shirt and tie also puts people off using a taxi."

Mr Johnson said that the public had a legal right to refuse to pay any extras which weren't made clear prior to beginning a journey.

He said: "It's important that the public become educated in taxi usage. For instance, if you book a taxi saying you need to catch a certain train at a certain station and you miss it then the driver is liable to take you free of charge to your final destination, regardless of distance."