A TAXI driver says Cirencester does not have enough evening cabbies to cover demand, after safety fears were raised about the lack of transport available to late night revellers.

Town councillor and chamber of commerce secretary Claire Wardell highlighted the issue after struggling to find a taxi in the Market Place after midnight earlier this month.

“I do worry about young girls having to walk home at night,” she said. “I’m a 40-year-old woman but I just can’t help thinking about these young girls walking around Cirencester in their heels.”

However, cabbie Laurence Butler, of T4 Taxis, who works days and nights, said his firm stays open “until demand has died down”, adding that the “whole argument is simply a case of supply and demand”.

He argued that there used to be far more night drivers but that people now go out less on week nights, with taxi firms now unable to cover the “spike in demand on Saturday night”.

“Unfortunately, when everyone wants a taxi at the same time it’s not possible for everyone to have one,” he said, adding: “a driver can’t make a living only on a Saturday night.”

Laurence also said licensing fees increase year-on-year as well as insurance, fuel rates and vehicle maintenance.

He advised people to book a taxi in advance and said he has sympathy with drivers refusing to work nights.

“I have had customers refuse to pay, vomit in my car, urinate in my car, soil my car and generally be abusive.”

He added: “I have been punched in the back of the head while doing 60mph by a man so high on drink and drugs that he had no idea what he was doing.”

Wayne Evans, of Home James Taxis of Cirencester, said: “If people are worried about safety, is that not the responsibility of the police? Maybe we need more police officers on a Saturday night.”

Both Laurence and Wayne felt that the taxi rank, which currently consists of two spaces outside the Kings Head Hotel and two on South Way, should be moved to either Cricklade Street or Castle Street.

“An appropriate place would be immediately outside 17 Black,” said Wayne.