A SWINDON councillor has welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that urges bus drivers to do more to accommodate wheelchair users.

Labour councillor Derique Montaut (Liden, Elden and Park South) also reminded bus services of their duty to meet the needs of everyone in the community.

It comes after judges last Wednesday declared that FirstGroup bus firm must do more to accommodate wheelchair users who wish to use their services.

The high-profile case was brought by Yorkshireman Doug Paulley after he had an altercation with a bus driver in 2012.

Mr Paulley, from Wetherby, had tried to board a FirstGroup bus which had a sign saying ‘Please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user.’

But a woman with a sleeping baby in a pushchair was sitting in the space and refused to move, even when asked by the driver.

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling said that bus drivers must ‘consider’ taking further steps to persuade non-wheelchair users to move, although the ruling stopped short of making it a legal duty to move them.

In light of this, Swindon’s Thamesdown Transport has reminded people of its commitment to helping those with disabilities.

Peter Oliver, the commercial director for Thamesdown,Transport said: “All of our local bus services are operated using wheelchair-friendly fully accessible buses.

“Our policy has always been to encourage drivers to do whatever they can to enable the person in the wheelchair to board, including asking people to move where possible.

“Following the ruling we are reviewing the guidance we provided to our drivers to ensure that we are fully compliant.

“We have found that here in Swindon if a person in a wheelchair is wanting to board, the vast majority of people have always moved when asked.”

Coun Derique Montaut, who has long been a champion of those with disabilities, echoed the sentiment. He said: “Swindon is a very caring community and we are deeply concerned with the welfare of those less fortunate than ourselves.

“I welcome the judgement, as it lays down some ground rules and recognises the rights of disabled passengers. But there must be a sensible approach in all our communities when it comes to the space we share.

“We need to consider the needs of all people, including people with pushchairs. We have to recognise that we need to meet the needs of all our community - that’s the important thing.”