A HANDFUL of East Ayrshire taxi drivers have been cited for suspension for failure to attend a disability awareness training course, according to a council report.

The report, by the council's chief governance officer David Mitchell, will be put to the local government licensing panel next week.

It is recommended that the panel consider the suspension of up to eight drivers in the area for failing to attend the course.

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Licensing conditions for taxi and private hire cars show that drivers must attend such types of training courses.

According to the report, license holders are invited to attend a disability course on at least three occasions before being referred to the licensing panel for consideration of suspension.

It is added that "licensing staff have made numerous attempts to contact the license holders by letter, email and phone".

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Staff have made contact with some of the named drivers, but some have not been reachable and they have been made aware of the process for failing to attend the training course.

The report adds that it's accepted that some of the drivers may not still be using their license, "but have neither engaged with the licensing unit nor surrendered their licenses to allow records to be updated".

The drivers named on the East Ayrshire Council website and recommended for the suspension of the license are: James Billingham; Marcus Sloan; Basharat Khan; Anthony Hawthorn; James Dunnachie; Ahmed Alkassim; Hamad Al-Khalil and Brian Kelly.

Disability awareness training course are held monthly at East Ayrshire Council headquarters, with the next one scheduled for October 4 from 10am-12pm.