Taxi fares are set to rise in Glasgow amid falling passenger numbers.

City chiefs have agreed to increase fare scales despite a warning that it could lead to a further drop in customers for black hackney drivers.

Glasgow Taxi’s boss Stephen Flynn yesterday admitted that use of the city’s taxi ranks has halved since 2006.

But he agreed to plans which will allow his drivers to charge a £3.30 initial fee – up from £3 – plus additional costs for the remaining distance and time spent in the cab.

The changes were recommended by Dr James Cooper, of Taxi Research Partners, who was commissioned to carry out an independent report into tariffs in Glasgow.

He highlighted the rising cost of vehicle purchase and maintenance as a reason for the rise but warned: “There is a very fine balance and I want to highlight that this is a very large increase.

“There is a very real potential that an increase is going to create a loss in custom.

“We have been in a vicious circle for a number of years.”

“The desire is to achieve a change in tariff that reflects a change in vehicle costs without penalising the passenger above the level of that change in costs.”

Under the new fare scale, passengers will be charged 20p for every 167 yards they are driven, with an additional 20p for every 34 seconds they remain in the taxi.

Currently, trips between 12am and 6am incur a £1 additional charge per trip during weekdays and there’s a £2.40 charge between 12.30am and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Those will be replaced by a £1.10 additional fee for all trips made between 11am and 6am every night.

There will be a charge of £2 on Christmas Day and January 1.

Stephen Flynn, the chairman of Glasgow Taxis, said: “With the app-based firms, people are moving away from using taxis.

“We supplied marshals at Central Station when they were finishing at 5.30am. They are now finishing at 3.30am. Footfall has dropped 50 per cent since 2006 through the ranks.

“I’m happy with the changes and I think we really needed to go with Dr Cooper’s recommendations.”

Glasgow’s licensing committee agreed to push forward with the new 10 per cent increase.

Committee chairman Alex Wilson said: “I think what we’re trying to do is increase drivers’ earnings. Ultimately, we’re looking to protect the trade and try to maximise their income.”

A date for when the new tariffs will come into force will be issued in the coming weeks.