BARRHEAD disability campaigners are urging three local councillors to sink their political differences and take decisive action on the town's “disgraceful” lack of even a single wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

The call came ahead of the council's licensing committee meeting on Tuesday, amid hopes that Barrhead's unique status - as a town where disabled people have to summon a taxi from Paisley or Glasgow - could soon be at an end.

Local man Chris Baird, who says he has campaigned for years to change the situation, said: “I'm fully behind the plan put forward in the Barrhead News by experienced Barrhead taxi driver Frank Smith.

“He wants taxi companies rather than individuals to have the responsibility of ensuring a certain number of vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, and while that number is open to negotiation the principle is right.

“Regardless of how this week's licensing meeting goes I am urging Barrhead's three local councillors – who hold the balance of power on that committee – to lay aside any political disagreements and come up with a solution that is fair, and which will end this disgraceful situation.”

He says local campaigners are acutely aware of the unique problem in Barrhead, but adds that proper wheelchair-accessible cover is needed for East Renfrewshire as a whole.

That perspective is shared by Michael McEwan, chairman of East Renfrewshire Disability Action (ERDA), who said: “Nothing has been done for years, but finally we are hoping the licensing councillors will see the situation is completely unacceptable and make a decision in line with Frank Smith's very sensible proposals.

“As a Barrhead man and a very experienced operator he knows the problems disabled people face, and wants to see the council finally taking action to resolve these difficulties.”

Until recently there was just one taxi in Barrhead able to accommodate wheelchairs, but it's understood that now there are none.

A council document prepared before Tuesday's meeting outlines statutory obligations the council would have to meet to change the existing system, and suggests one option could be a wheelchair-accessible ratio of one third.

It adds: “Changing the existing licensing conditions would have a positive impact on wheelchair users and carers and others who may require additional support to

access and egress taxis and private hire vehicles.”

ERDA argues strongly that the bureaucratic minutiae of how to reform the system are a minor consideration compared to what they see as discrimination against people with mobility difficulties.

It had previously been claimed there was no or very low demand for wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the area, but ERDA says the reality is that local people know the situation is “hopeless”.

They are said to have given up asking locally, going instead for the more expensive option of phoning a taxi from one of the local authority areas where virtually every taxi can accommodate disabled people.

Barrhead News was going to press as the licensing councillors were preparing to make their crunch decision.