MOBILITY MATTERS WORTHING TAXI HOT LINE IS LAUNCHED
A special hot line has been launched for people who want to order a wheelchair accessible taxi. According to the Wor- thing Herald, Worthing Taxi Association (WTA)
and Worthing Borough Council have respond- ed to complaints that insufficient wheelchair accessible taxis were available for disabled residents despite an increase in the number
of them licensed in the borough.
So to make things eas- ier, the WTA has launched a special hot line for people need- ing a wheelchair accessible taxi.
FEW CABS FOR NORTH SOMERSET DISABLED
A disability charity is calling for a meeting addressing taxi licens- ing policy to be deferred until it consults with disabled cus- tomers.
There are currently just 16 cabs serving dis- abled people in the whole of North Somer- set and campaigners are appealing for more. Despite many letters to North Somerset
Council calling for more cabs, the issue was not discussed at the recent planning and regulatory com- mittee meeting. John Hunter, access manager for Nailsea Disability Initiative (NDI), told the Nailsea Times: “We’ve been trying to get North Somerset Council to change its licensing policy to improve the
number and quality of taxis available for dis- abled people for nearly two years. “The council has pro- duced a new policy it is going to discuss, with- out any consultation with users.”
A council spokesman said: “There is an Equal- ity Bill going through Parliament at the moment. We will await the outcome of that.”
NORTHWICH COMPANY HELPS DISABLED
A husband and wife team have launched a taxi service to provide comfortable transport for disabled people and families with young children.
Jemma and John Woodward were inspired to set up JJ’s
Taxi, in Northwich, after their own experiences. Jemma told the North- wich Guardian: “John’s mother was disabled and it was quite difficult to get her any comfortable trans- port, and it was an ordeal to get any-
where. This inspired us to start this company. “Also, being a mum myself, I understand how difficult travelling with children can be.” The taxi company cur- rently employs two drivers and has two vehicles - a silver Lon- don cab with six passenger seats and an eight-seater Ren- ault Trafic.
Both vehicles have full disabled access and the Renault can accom- modate two wheel- chairs without the need to fold them away. Jemma said: “Busi- ness is picking up really nicely, and we hope to get more vehi- cles as business increases. “We saw a gap in the market as I don’t think a great deal of taxis concentrate especially on disabled access.” Speaking of the response from cus- tomers, Jemma said that many praised the extra room provided. She added: “The cus- tomers really love the experience, and have found our taxis very helpful.”
PAGE 64 VEHICLE DONATION BOOSTS PERTH MOBILITY
A group that trans- ports vulnerable and disabled passengers from Perth has been given a new vehicle. Access Cars received keys for the specially- adapted Citroen from Graham Harding, dean of guild for the Guildry Corporation of Perth.
Group chairman Cllr Alexander Stewart told the Courier and Adver- tiser: “It has been adapted to a high stan- dard to allow us to take wheelchair passengers and ensure even more of Perth’s residents who require transport have access to it.”
“Purchasing this vehi- cle would not have been possible without the donation from the Guildry Corporation. Access Cars would like to thank all those who make donations, as this enables us to keep the service run- ning.”
BIRMINGHAM APPEAL FOR SAFER TAXIS
A campaign has been launched for safer taxis in Birmingham - in memory of a wheel- chair-bound teenager who died when she was not secured in properly. Fourteen year-old Razan Begum, who suffered from a fragile spine, died after her wheelchair jerked for- ward as she rode home in a black cab in February 2009.
A Birmingam coroner called for the compul- sory use of restraints for wheelchair users at an inquest into Razan’s death. Now Young Champi- ons in the city have launched a national campaign to ensure wheelchair users stay safe when travelling by public transport. They have linked up with Birmingham City Council and the Chil-
Kerri Webley (left) and Katie Stafford
dren’s Society to cre- ate the ‘Please Care, Secure My Chair’, campaign.
It is hoped that all reg- istered 1,500 black cab drivers will respond by displaying a ‘I Care, I Will Secure Your Chair’ sticker in their vehicles.
Katie Stafford, aged 21, from Harbourne, who has been devel- oping the project with Kerri Webley, aged 16, was at the launch. She told the Birming-
ham Mail: “I have had problems with drivers not knowing how to use the ramps. I refused to get into a taxi once because they didn’t know how to put my chair in. It would be reassuring to get inside a taxi and see the sticker.” Tony Phillips-Jones, from the Children’s Society, said: “It com- municates the key messages about safe transport needs of wheelchair users.”
BRIGHTON CABBIES’ PLEA FOR DISABLED
A taxi drivers’ union is pressing for an increase in the number of hackney carriages with wheelchair access.
The Brighton Argus reports that the GMB has written to Council- lor Denise Cobb, who chairs Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing committee, asking her to raise the issue at the next meet- ing. In November last year, the committee decid- ed to reduce the
number of new taxi licences issued from five to two as part of its “managed growth” strategy.
Councillors made their decision based on a report by con- sultants Halcrow. New taxis have to be fitted to take wheel- chair users and the GMB has argued the reduction in new taxi licences is discriminat- ing against disabled passengers.
Mick Hildreth, secre- tary of the Southern
region professional taxi drivers’ branch of the GMB, wrote: “It is quite clear that there is a serious amount of unmet demand with the service provi- sion to wheelchair users.
“The decision by yourself and other councillors on the licensing committee to reduce the number of plates issued from five to two defies logic and clearly dis- criminates against wheelchair users.”
PHTM APRIL 2010
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