“The council doesn’t believe the decision has created a barrier to fair entry for operators and this approach is followed as part of national practice.”

Councillors wrangle over wheelchair-accessible taxis in Yeovil


A WAR of words has broken out between two local councillors over a decision to make a fifth of hackney carriage taxis in Yeovil wheelchair-accessible.

Last week, Conservative councillor Nick Colbert – who sits on the South Somerset District Council’s licensing committee – said the decision could have a “catastrophic” financial effect on the industry as cabbies are forced to spend thousands of pounds on wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs).

A brand-new WAV can cost up to £32,000 and all new licensed hackney carriages in south Somerset must be purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) until they make up at least 20 per cent of the fleet.

Mr Colbert said the move would force taxi operators to push up fares and this would drive them away from the area to places where similar rules do not apply. But Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Seib says the claims are unfounded and has accused Mr Colbert of “political opportunism”.

He said: “I was surprised at his assertions given he has been considering the proposal as part of the licensing committee for a year and has previously voted for a WAV quota of 50 per cent to be sent before full council. That is a matter of public record. He really ought to explain why he’s had that change of heart. I think it was a regrettable bit of political opportunism.

“The council doesn’t believe the decision has created a barrier to fair entry for operators and this approach is followed as part of national practice.”

In response, Mr Colbert said: “Peter Seib does say the most bizarre things. Councillors were given the choice of a WAV quota of 100 per cent, 75 per cent or 50 per cent. His own leader, Ric Pallister came up with the figure of 20 cent per at the meeting and the majority of councillors voted for that as a least worst option.

“I don’t understand how he can say I was playing politics when most of his own party agreed with us. We have a duty to ensure wheelchair users can get about but not to a degree where it damages the taxi service.”


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