Fed-up cabbies have called for tougher action against motorists who park at East Renfrewshire's taxi ranks.

Licensed taxi drivers claim they have been “grossly let down” by East Renfrewshire Council, as well as Police Scotland, over a failure to put the brakes on members of the public who are affecting their ability to make a living.

John Paul Duffy, chairman of the East Renfrewshire Hire Car Forum, said other motorists are "persistently" parking on taxi ranks, meaning cabbies can't gain access to them.

He added that taxi drivers who ask them not to do so are often met with verbal abuse and, in one recent incident, a female driver was physically assaulted.

Mr Duffy told the Barrhead News: “This has been a major issue for drivers for some time.

"They feel they have been grossly let down by the council’s parking enforcement department and Police Scotland over a complete lack of action.

“When drivers ask members of the public not to park on the taxi ranks, they are met with verbal abuse and, very recently, a female driver was physically assaulted.

"Drivers do report illegal parking on the ranks to the parking enforcement department but they rarely attend and it is falling on deaf ears.

"The council needs to take action now to protect drivers' safety and not leave it up to drivers to try to police this themselves.”

Mr Duffy, who is also chair of the East Renfrewshire branch of the Scottish Private Hire Association, said powers exist to fine anyone who is illegally parked at a taxi rank but these are not being enforced properly.

“In November of last year, the Scottish Private Hire Association campaigned to re-establish the Hire Car Forum after a 17-year hiatus," he added.

"The purpose of the forum is for representatives of the trade to engage with the council and Police Scotland on taxi and private hire issues.

“After the inaugural meeting, the council and Police Scotland carried out a day of action where they enforced the parking laws on the ranks. However, as soon as they left, the problem immediately returned.

"This was the only day in 2023 that the council and the police took this sort of action. We need to see a permanent solution to this issue.

“We have called on the council to install ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras on the Busby Road, Kennishead Road and Mearns Road ranks to issue automatic fines to try and deter people from parking on them and restricting the drivers' ability to work and earn.

"However, the council say that, due to budget cuts, this isn’t an option.”

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson stated it is "disappointing that we continue to see people breaking the law by parking in designated taxi ranks".

"Signs are in place at all taxi ranks to inform drivers of the times that the ranks are operational, so there is no excuse," they added. 

"We continue to work closely with the taxi trade and Police Scotland in an attempt to tackle this issue.

"Our community safety wardens patrol areas across East Renfrewshire seven days a week, however, they can't cover all areas, every day, so we rely on people parking responsibly.

"If vehicles are parked illegally whilst our wardens are on patrol then restrictions are enforced.

"Any parking concerns can be reported via our Ring and Report Line on 0800 013 0076, which is open from 7.30am-12.15am, seven days a week.” 

A Police Scotland spokesperson, meanwhile, told the Barrhead News: “We would urge people to park responsibly in suitable areas with consideration for all other road users.

“We work closely with our local authority partners to influence driver behaviour.

"However, Police Scotland will act where vehicles are parked dangerously or where any criminality is identified.”