COUNCILLORS have agreed to consult West Dunbartonshire taxi drivers over proposed changes to access for wheelchair users.

In 1996, rules were passed for drivers in Clydebank, which ensured all cars are required to be wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) - but this isn’t a condition for cabbies in Dumbarton and the Vale.

At a meeting of the licensing committee last week, a local driver called on the council to re-consider the move, which he said was pricing out drivers in the area, who already faced competition from neighbouring authorities.

John Gallagher, a driver from Clydebank, was allowed to speak in front of the committee - which was considering a report on the demand for taxis in general across West Dunbartonshire.

Mr Gallagher said: “In Clydebank, all of our vehicles need to be wheelchair accessible.

“The situation for us is, it’s now impossible to keep up.

“It’s more expensive to buy and maintain these bigger and more accessible vehicles, some of the guys are having to do school runs to make up the difference - this is costing us money.

“We need to get together with the licensing office and come to some sort of a balance because the competition that we’re facing from other areas, is making it hard for us to afford.”

Mr Gallagher implored the council to meet with drivers, in a bid to strike a balance.

He said: “We just want some consultation between drivers and yourselves on this issue.”

Mr Gallagher also pointed to the pricing for the purchase of taxi licenses, which is roughly double the amount it is for the nearest competition in Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire.

He said: “I’m not looking for you to make it cheaper, but that’s just an example of more that we’re having to pay.”

Other drivers were also on hand to lend their thoughts on the matter.

Dumbarton-based Steve McEwan, of Wright Taxis, told the committee that there are not enough WAV vehicles in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven taxi zone.

He said there may be scope to reduce the Clydebank quota, while increasing the Dumbarton zone numbers at the same time.

Mr McEwan said: “The report said there was an 18 minute wait for people needing a WAV, while it was around 10 minutes for people who needed a regular car.

“We’re looking for something that’s going to work in both areas.”

Recommendations from officers in the report presented to the committee stated there was no need for a change to the number of available licences in either zone, nor was there any demand for an increase in the number of WAVs.

Council leader and vice-chairman of the committee Jonathan McColl tabled a motion to accept the recommendation of the officers, but also added that a taxi forum be called in a bid to see what drivers feel should be done in relation to provision of WAVs in the area.

Raymond Lynch, the section head for licensing, appeared to agree with the move, saying: “The forums we’ve had in the past have always been well attended and very helpful.”

Following the forum, a report will be brought back to the committee for consideration.