TAXI fares will go up in East Lothian from June after new tariffs were approved by councillors.

The county, which is said to have the highest fares in Scotland, will see cabbies allowed to increase their initial £3 minimum charge to £4 after 6pm. And the distance travelled before the 20p additional charges are incurred will also shorten in length.

East Lothian Council’s licensing sub-committee approved the changes, which had been put forward by taxi firms; however, there was disappointment expressed that no one had responded to a public consultation on the increases.

Councillor Tom Trotter said: “People have to realise they have been given a chance to have their say and they have not taken it.

“It is disappointing.”

The Private Hire and Taxi Monthly trade magazine named East Lothian as the most expensive place in Scotland to travel two miles in figures it updates each month.

It costs £6.80, with the next most expensive two miles in Fife and Moray at £6.60, Glasgow at £6.50 and Edinburgh at £6.35.

However, taxi drivers in East Lothian were also hit with a hike in fees last year after the local authority increased the annual renewal cost of their licence from £62 to £130 and increased charges to operators for each vehicle from £250 to £386 a year.

Current fares in East Lothian see people charged a £3 initial rate for up to eight passengers day and night, with a £5 initial fee over the festive season. Passengers are then charged 20p (40p during festive season) every 153.90 yards travelled. The new charges will see the 20p/40p rates charged every 146.5 yards throughout the year.

The festive initial tariff of £5 remains, with the Christmas season extended by one day over New Year.

Taxi firms lobbied for the price increase, which comes into effect from June 3, and will mean a driver who drives 30,000 miles a year –  half of which are paid for –  will see earnings increase by £1,800 annually.