TAXI drivers in Cambridge are struggling to make a living with many forced to work three shifts a day and drive for 80 hours a week.

Sid Couzens, chairman of Cambridge Licensed Taxi Owners' Association, said they are having to work long hours to meet the cost of getting a £25,000 wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

And since the number of hackney carriages has more than doubled from 110 to 284, many drivers are forced to work seven days a week.

Mr Couzens, 59, from Cherry Hinton, said: "The newer drivers coming into the trade have to borrow so much money to buy a vehicle and make it wheelchair-accessible.

"They have to cover their costs, they double-shift and treble-shift, some are working seven days a week. Drivers are working 60 to 80 hours a week.

"It is much more stressful working in the evenings.

"In general the public are good, but you never know who you are going to pick up."

Mr Couzens, a cab driver for 30 years, said they were struggling to get space in taxi ranks.

He said: "We have less rank space now with 284 taxis than when we had 110. Some days it's hard to get on a rank. Then you are not earning."

At a city council licensing committee meeting, he supported plans for an above-inflation 3.2 per cent rise in fares.

He also asked for 10p extra on minimum tariff charges and higher charges to apply all weekend, rather than just evenings, Sundays and bank holidays.

City councillors approved the rise, the same increase given to London drivers, after hearing that Cambridge taxis were among the most expensive in the country.

The council can only set prices for hackney carriages, but private hire vehicles tend to follow suit.

The cost of travelling one mile, without taking the time of journey into account, will cost £3.80 during the day and £4.80 in the evening.

Mr Couzens told the meeting many drivers were struggling to make ends meet with rising fuel prices and fees.

He said: "The average hours are 60 up to 80, some more than that to more dangerous levels. They have to do the hours to pay for the spiralling cost of running a taxi these days."

Coun Jenny Bailey said: "If somebody has been driving for 10 hours, I wouldn't want them on the road with a cyclist."

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2007/08/08/c197484c-7228-4536-9ddf-9e0ebf79766e.lpf