POOLE licensing chiefs have agreed to match Bournemouth’s maximum taxi fares to level the playing field across the conurbation.

This means that the basic initial call out charge rises from £2.30 to £2.80, making a one mile taxi journey cost £3.99 compared with £3.76.

Subsequent mileage rises from £1.98 to £2.08 a mile.

Meanwhile, initial call-outs during unsociable hours rise from £3 to £3.75, making a one mile trip £5.32 compared to £5.

Subsequent miles for unsociable hours, from midnight until 6.30am, rise from £2.63 to £2.78.

Borough of Poole transportation head Julian McLaughlin said: “This formula uses changes in national wage levels and the cost of motoring to calculate a percentage change.”

More than 220 vehicles are fitted with taxi meters in Poole.

Taxis licensed by Christchurch Borough Council already charge the same as Bournemouth cabs.

Mr McLaughlin said Poole’s decision means the hackney carriage fares are now “consistent across the conurbation”.

The revised fares should come into force in May.