TAXI fares in Dumbarton and the Vale could rise if councillors give new proposals the green light.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s licensing committee will debate whether to sanction a full review of existing charges and fares structure following a consultation with industry workers.

According to council documents, the West Dunbartonshire Area Taxi Trade Association has already been contacted regarding the “requirement to review scales and requesting the views of the association on a review”.

The group said it was opposed to an increase in taxi fares but did wish to “incorporate within Extra Charges, the fee payable, currently set at £2 for hires dropping off at Glasgow Airport, in order that the cost be met by the passenger”.

The current fare structure states a charge of £2.50 for the first half mile then 10p per additional 1/19 of a mile from 6am to 9pm Monday to Sunday.

In the evenings, that charge rises to £3 for the first half with an additional 10p for each 1/21 mile, as well as further increases for fares over the Christmas period and when five or more passengers are being transported.

A soiling fee of £50 is chargeable whenever the actions of a passenger require a taxi to be removed from service for cleaning and a waiting fee of 10p for each period of 20-seconds is also payable.

The move comes just months after the fare structure in neighbouring Clydebank was completely overhauled, despite some opposition from industry workers.

Meanwhile, another report will go before a committee meeting, which will take place on August 16 at 2pm in Clydebank Town Hall, proposing an increase in the age limit for saloon private hire and multi-purpose vehicles from 10 to 14 years provided they are licensed prior to being eight years old.

Officers also recommend adapted wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) can operate until vehicles are 14 years old, with no restriction on age at first use and that purpose-built WAVs can operate indefinitely with no restriction of age at first use.

The debate is the result of a letter sent to the committee with a list of seven supporters who back the proposed change.

If approved, the decision would see West Dunbartonshire have one of the highest age limit for vehicles set within nearby Scottish councils, which range from seven years at Glasgow City to 12 years at East Lothian.

While neighbouring council Argyll and Bute – as well as Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, Stirling, Falkirk, North Ayrshire and Clackmannanshire – have no upper age limit.