TAXI passengers across Waveney face an increase in the amount of money they pay to drivers to take them home or to other locations.

Waveney District Council's licensing committee will be looking at proposals to raise hackney carriage metered fares.

For journeys between 7am and 11pm it will mean that passengers pay �4.20 for the first mile instead of the current �3.20 fare.

As a comparison the council says taxi passengers in Great Yarmouth pay �3.60, in Norwich they pay �4.60 while Suffolk Coastal District Council's set fee is �4.20, which is currently also under consultation.

Other changes between 7am and 11pm mean people will pay �13.80 for a five-mile journey, an increase of a pound, and they will also pay an extra pound for 10 and 15-mile trips.

There is also a proposed change for fares between 11pm and 7am with fares set to rise by �1.20 for the first mile to �4.80 and by �1 for five, 10 or 15-mile journeys.

Taxi drivers in Waveney say the rises are needed because of the rising cost of fuel and insurance premiums and the annual cost of a taxi licence.

Licensing committee papers show that nearly 40 taxi drivers approve of the fare changes.

The fares are recommended for approval and are based on 20p every 146 yards (134m) or 121 yards (110m) after the first 987 yards (902m) or 789 yards (721m) depending on the time.

If approved by the licensing committee members on Monday the new taxi fares will then go to 14-day consultation period where objections can be raised before they are voted on by the committee in July.

The report to the licensing committee says: 'Since 2007 fuel prices have risen dramatically, the rate of VAT has increased and there has been a sharp rise in insurance premiums. In addition to this hackney carriage driver and vehicle licences increase annually.

'There has been an increased financial burden on drivers.'