Dumfries and Galloway Council Approves New Strategy to Boost Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis
Dumfries and Galloway Council has approved a new strategy aimed at improving transport accessibility for wheelchair users by making it easier to find and use local taxis. The Enabling and Customer Services Committee gave the green light to the changes during its meeting on Thursday, March 19, setting out a series of measures to support drivers and enhance the region’s transport network.
New Licensing Zone and Reduced Fees to Encourage WAVs
A cornerstone of the plan is the creation of a dedicated licensing zone exclusively for wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). This special zone will permit these specific taxis to operate across the entire Dumfries and Galloway region, removing previous geographical restrictions that limited their service areas.
To incentivise more operators to acquire or convert to WAVs, the council is significantly reducing associated licence fees. The cost to obtain or renew a WAV licence will now be £230, and the fee for swapping an existing vehicle for a new WAV has been cut to £65. While the overall cap of 70 taxi licences within the Dumfries town zone remains unchanged, council leaders hope these financial incentives will specifically address the acute shortage of accessible vehicles in rural communities.
The council also agreed to formally lobby both the Scottish and UK governments. The request seeks targeted financial assistance to help taxi operators purchase and maintain WAVs, alongside broader support to tackle the systemic challenges facing taxi and private hire services in sparsely populated areas.
Councillors Hail Plan as Practical Step Forward
Councillor John Campbell, Chair of the Enabling and Customer Services Committee, described the new zone as a significant milestone for the region. He stated: “The creation of a new Zone is a significant step. It is intended to help encourage more WAVs onto the road and improve access for people who rely on those services, while retaining the current arrangements in the existing zones.”
Vice-Chair Councillor Ben Dashper acknowledged the complexity of rural transport issues but positioned the strategy as a tangible solution. “While there is no single easy answer to the transport problems we face, particularly in rural areas, this plan offers a practical way forward to help everyone get around more easily,” he said.
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