JUST 9% of taxis and private hire vehicles in Denbighshire can be used by people in wheelchairs, figures reveal.

With just one in seven vehicles across England and Wales suitably equipped, disability charity Scope said everyday inequality is rife – even for the nation's returning Paralympic heroes.

Department for Transport figures show 263 vehicles were licensed to operate in Denbighshire at the end of March – but just 23 (9%) could be used by those in wheelchairs.

Of the 210 traditional taxis which can be hailed from the street, only 13 (6%) were wheelchair accessible.

And just 10 of the area's 53 private hire vehicles, which need to be pre-booked, offered the same service.

Across Wales, just 5% of private hire vehicles, such as those available through Uber, can fit a wheelchair in them.

Meanwhile, 26% of taxis or hackney carriages can do the same.

Scope said four-fifths of disabled people feel anxious on public transport – with the coronavirus pandemic only exacerbating this – leaving many reliant on taxis and PHVs.

Tom Marsland, policy manager for consumer affairs at the charity, said: "When these aren't accessible disabled people are robbed of their independence.

"Consistent regulation and enforcement across all transport authorities in England and Wales would help hold drivers and taxi organisations accountable for their accessibility, and improve disabled people's trust in the system."

Mr Marsland said the Paralympic Games – which conclude on Sunday (September 5) – have sent a powerful message to the world, but warned that all disabled people still face daily inequality on public transport.

He added: "We must not miss the opportunity to turn Paralympic cheers into change and create an equal and fair society."

The DfT figures also show that the majority of local authorities across England and Wales do not require disability awareness training for taxi or private hire drivers.

In Denbighshire, drivers for neither vehicle type have to do this training.

The National Private Hire and Taxi Association said wheelchair accessible vehicles are expensive to buy and run, and their higher emissions are worse for the environment.

Steven Toy, NPHTA board member, said: "With the increase in the number of journeys being taken by peer-to-peer apps, there are fewer journeys by hackney carriage.

"That itself dissuades people from investing in a vehicle when they see their trade falling on the whole."

He added that for every WAV request, there are likely to be 10 or more for a low vehicle – favoured by older people who struggle to get into higher vehicles – so all disabilities should be taken into consideration.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We want to ensure that taxis and private hire vehicles are accessible by all.

"To achieve this our proposals for new legislation focus around national licensing standards which will include accessibility training for drivers, and vehicles standards that ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.”