Taxi trade shake-up

THE taxi trade could be set for a shake-up because it is not providing a reliable service for people in Dumfries and Galloway, according to an investigation.
There are not enough taxis and private hire cars on the road, there is “significant unmet demand” due to a shortage of taxis servicing the ranks, and there needs to be more wheelchair accessible vehicles.
These are the findings of a survey carried out by the company LVSA, which specialises in analysing unmet demand in taxi trades. They looked closely at this region between May and December 2024.
Figures show that between December 2023 and the beginning of this year, the number of taxis and private hire cars on the road dropped from 265 to 245.
Just three of the current 245 taxis are wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) – representing approximately one percent of the total fleet.
The issue was discussed at the enabling and customer services committee on Tuesday where councillors and council officials are reviewing the taxi service, with the aim of increasing provision for the public.
This could potentially mean removing the current taxi zone restriction (i.e. the Dumfries Trading Zone), adjusting rules on fares, and removing the cap of 70 taxi operator licences within Dumfries.
Annandale South Councillor Sean Marshall asked if the council still kept in regular contact with taxi operators, and added that it was “concerning” there are so few wheelchair accessible vehicles.
He said: “It is very expensive for operators to provide this kind of service. Is there no way there’s any potential to develop grants scheme to assist that?
“Apart from the restriction because of the amount of vehicles available, this will also affect children in wheelchairs that are going to school.”
Sharon Davidson, the council’s licensing manager, said: “As part of the next report coming before members, there will be options available to them.
“That will include keeping the (Dumfries taxi licence) cap as it is, increasing the cap, or potentially even removing it completely.
“We will fully explore those options and the pros and cons. There will be the fullest of information before you before making any decision in respect of the cap.
“In respect of the low number of WAVs, yes I absolutely take that on board. It came out in the survey that wheelchair accessible vehicles are exceptionally expensive to purchase and maintain.”
She added that grants were made available to taxi operators last year from Business Gateway but none were taken. Further work is being done to consider what other incentives could be drawn up.
Councillors instructed council officers to provide detailed options for increasing the current taxi/private hire vehicle and wheelchair accessible provision. This work will be done throughout the year, with full options available by January/February 2026.