TAXI fares in Huddersfield could rise as businesses struggle to cope with soaring fuel prices.

Amjad Nadeem, of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, last night revealed his group had asked for a price rise to help cabbies cope with the rising cost of petrol.

“There’s nothing we can do except ask for an increase,” he said.

Mr Nadeem said the association had sent a survey to its 250 members, 80% of whom operate in Huddersfield.

“The response we got is that 97 to 98% of drivers want a meter increase.

“We haven’t set a figure for a specific increase”

Hackney cabs in Kirklees have a starting tariff of £2 per journey from 6am to 11pm and £2.50 between 11pm and 6am.

Mr Nadeem said: “We aren’t asking for a very large increase because we’re aware of the economic situation. We need to strike a balance.

“Our fares are competitive. If four people share a cab from the town centre to Netherton it will cost them about £6, but if they all get the bus they will pay £8 between them.”

Kirklees will rule this month whether to allow an increase in fares.

“The ball is in the council’s court,” said Mr Nadeem.

Yesterday the Examiner reported that unleaded petrol was on sale for 132.9p a litre at Hartshead Moor services – the equivalent of £6 a gallon.

And motoring journalist Quentin Willson yesterday warned of the “Armageddon prospect” of motorists paying £7 a gallon.

He was speaking after handing in a 130,000-name petition to 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to scrap the planned 1p VAT rise in April.

Richard Allen, of Huddersfield-based hauliers The Pink Link, backs the campaign.

He said: “I’m not one for slowing up motorways or blockading fuel depots, but I will sign up for lobbying the Government.

“We want a U-turn on the 1p rise in April, this has got to stop somewhere.”

The Netherton-based pallet distributor has a fleet of 20 lorries and employs 45 people.

Mr Allen said the company was suffering because of unrest in the Middle East, including the revolution in oil-rich Libya.

“It has had a marked effect, you’re not talking about an extra half-pence,” he said.

“Before Christmas we were paying 105p plus VAT for a litre, but that’s gone up to more than 110p.

“When fuel went above 80p a litre we had to put a surcharge on. We had to pass the price onto the customer.”

But Mr Allen added his company was not as badly effected as other hauliers.

He said: “We’re part of a network of 106 companies that work together. The Pink Link covers Huddersfield, Halifax and Bradford, we don’t go all the way to the South Coast or Scotland.

“If I have a delivery for Southampton, I take it down to Lichfield where another haulier picks it up”.