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Posted on the 18th June 2025 in PHTM News
TAXI BOSS WARNS RED TAPE THREATENS EAST AYRSHIRE SERVICES
A prominent local taxi operator has issued a stark warning that "astonishing" red tape imposed by East Ayrshire Council is actively deterring new drivers and jeopardising essential services such as school runs, night-time safety, and the future of wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Ross Gilmour, boss of Thistle Cabs, made a strongly worded submission to the council's licensing panel, alleging a dramatic drop in new taxi badge applications. He attributes this decline to the reintroduction of a compulsory street-knowledge test and stricter medical checks.
Gilmour described the impact of the knowledge test as "astronomical," leading many prospective drivers to abandon their applications.
He also criticised the council's decision to limit attempts at the £30 test, calling it something that "beggars belief" given modern navigation technology.
"In the modern era where taxi drivers are assisted by satellite navigation and soon to be 'what3words' like the police use, I cannot see any justification whatsoever as to why this is required in an area that cannot be compared to cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh," he stated.
While Gilmour claimed a "particularly low" pass rate for the knowledge test, council officials have refuted this, reporting 64 successful applications out of 83 since its reintroduction in early 2024.
The Thistle Cabs chief was equally critical of mandatory medical assessments, particularly as "neighbouring authorities had not taken the same route," creating a "postcode lottery" for drivers.
He also highlighted "a minimum 28-day wait" for successful applicants to receive their licences, a delay he found "astounding."
Further compounding frustrations is the temporary relocation of Kilmarnock's main taxi rank, which Gilmour says has led to a "cut in a vital revenue stream for drivers already struggling with spiralling costs."
The financial strain of maintaining wheelchair-accessible vehicles, with new models costing around £60,000, is becoming "impossible for many."
Gilmour concluded his submission with a powerful statement: "A lack of drivers means lack of income, means a lack of investment, which leads to lack of quality." He urged councillors to scrap the route test, drop the medical requirement, or align rules with neighbouring councils, and restore the taxi rank to its original location.
"We are the driving force of the community," Gilmour asserted. "We clear up the streets, help police investigations and transport children with additional needs. This is a trade worth fighting for — not fighting against."
The Licensing Panel is set to meet on Thursday, June 19, to consider a review of the policies around knowledge tests and medical assessments, which would include a survey of all taxi and private hire operators.
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