DESPITE taxi drivers in Swindon being allowed to use bus lanes from this month, many have said the new rules do not go far enough.

Since May 1 cabbies have been able to use the town’s 12 bus lanes but are still not permitted to use bus gates – shortcuts that bus drivers are allowed to use.

Swindon Council has said some of the gates are triggered by size and changing the sensors would be expensive.

But Mike Wykeham-Martin, chairman of the Swindon Private Hire Drivers’ Association, also said his members would like to use the bus gates.

“Our drivers know the best routes across town. I’d estimate each day our members have to drive an additional 400 miles unnecessarily.

“Quite often, to get to a destination, we have to drive an extra mile to go the long way round.

“That’s not good for the environment or the customer.

“To him or her that represents another £1 on the fare.”

Private hire vehicles are now required to display a plate stating they are entitled to use the bus lanes so they can be clearly identified by motorists and police.

Councillor Peter Greenhalgh, cabinet member for sustainability, transport and strategic planning, said the council did not want to see bus lanes being abused.

He said: “If police are patrolling they can see the vehicle is licensed by the council and entitled to use the bus lane. Some of the traffic lights at bus gate junctions are triggered specifically by buses – and therefore the cost of implementing a technology change would be quite considerable.

“We don’t have a great deal of money in the council and therefore we looked at the most cost-effective solution all round.”

There are 12 lengths of bus lane operating between 7am and 7pm in Swindon and there are 16 bus gates in the borough.