Council considers easing rules to keep wheelchair accessible taxis on the road to ease school contract concerns
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Denbighshire County Council is considering easing age restrictions for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) following a consultation with local taxi and private hire licence holders.
The proposed move comes as part of efforts to address a decline in the number of WAVs available for public and school transport. Under current rules, WAVs are subject to the same age limits as regular vehicles. However, councillors will decide whether to temporarily replace these limits with a requirement that all WAVs meet Euro 6 emissions standards and undergo an additional compliance test once they reach 12 years of age. These older vehicles would then need to pass three tests a year, carried out every four months.
The Licensing Committee will meet on 3 June 2025 to review consultation feedback and decide whether to implement the 12-month trial. The aim is to assess whether the relaxed rules will help maintain or increase the number of licensed WAVs in the area.
The consultation received five responses. Views were mixed, but one fully supported the proposed change, and two others were open to it without the added compliance testing. Other respondents felt no changes were needed.
Currently, Denbighshire has just six licensed hackney carriage and eight private hire WAVs. The council’s Passenger Transport Section has flagged a shortage of WAVs for school contracts, particularly vehicles suitable for learners travelling in their wheelchairs. While demand has remained stable, the number of vehicles available has fallen. This has led to fewer tender bids and increased costs due to limited competition.
Officers believe the proposed temporary change could extend the life of some WAVs, reduce pressure on the school transport budget and improve accessibility without incurring extra costs. Safety standards would still be upheld through the added testing requirement for older vehicles.
The council will review the impact of the temporary change in June 2026 before deciding whether to make the change permanent.
