A CAMPAIGNING councillor has welcomed support given to taxi drivers so they can stay on the road during coronavirus restrictions.

Tom Begg, who represents Erskine and Inchinnan for the Conservatives, feared drivers who need their vehicles as a source of income would lose out because the MOT inspection bay at Underwood Road, in Paisley, was closed.

However, a driver was offered an urgent slot at the site prior to its official reopening after raising concerns with the councillor.

During lockdown, cabbies could still drive without a MOT certificate while they waited on any urgent appointments but could not be guaranteed that insurance companies would pay out in the event of an accident.

Councillor Begg contacted officials at Renfrewshire Council to ask them to look at making urgent exceptions for those taxi drivers who rely on their vehicles for their source of income.

He said: “I was very concerned to hear of the backlog affecting many taxi drivers across Renfrewshire, including in my ward.

“Obviously the Covid-19 pandemic was going to have an effect but this should have been an easier process in order to ensure taxi drivers could continue earning their income as quickly as possible.

“In this case, I was pleased my constituent was offered an urgent slot to receive an updated MOT certificate.”

A council spokesman pointed out that government guidance did not consider taxi and private hire car testing to be essential.

He said: “These cars were given a MOT exemption by the UK Government, so no vehicle has been unable to operate due to a MOT expiring.

“For tests carried out by the council, existing taxis and private hire cars were allowed to continue to operate where their test could not be carried out due to the pandemic.

“Prior to the reopening of the testing centre, we also made special arrangements to test and licence, where appropriate, new vehicles that had not previously been tested by the council to ensure they can operate as required.

“Our testing centre has now reopened and we will continue to work closely with all taxi operators to ensure they are able work fully and safely during the pandemic.”

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