MOBILITY MATTERS
WILTSHIRE COUNCIL REVISES GUIDELINES FOR ASSISTANCE DOGS AFTER DISABLED MAN REFUSED
A disabled man who collapsed through exhaustion was left “devastated and humiliated” after he was refused a taxi because he had an assistance dog. Edward Jones, 46, says he was ignored by taxi drivers outside Chippenham railway station on two occasions. He was told he would not be driven home because of his dog, George, a Teacup Shih Tzu who helps him with his mental health. This was despite him collapsing and experiencing a pain in his legs he described as a “burning from the inside out". Wiltshire Council has now changed its guidelines for taxi
drivers in response to the incident. Cllr Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport, said: “We were sorry to hear about Mr Jones’ experience at Chippenham railway station. The council takes these matters very seriously. “After investigating his complaint, we have revised the wording in our taxi guidelines to
make it
absolutely clear to taxi drivers that guide dogs and assistance dogs must be carried, and it is illegal to refuse to do so. “In addition, customers who state that their dog is an assistance dog are under no legal obligation to prove this, meaning that any dog classed as an assistance dog must
be carried, unless the driver has a medical exemption from carrying dogs.
“Our enforcement officers will be undertaking rank inspections to monitor compliance.” Mr Jones described himself as feeling “joy and relief” when he was told of the changes. He said: “Both Wiltshire and Chippenham councillors have been wonderful and very supportive, I want to thank them for their understanding. My hope is that with this change, others in similar situations will know their rights, and feel secure and comfortable travelling anywhere, just as an able-bodied person would do.”
MAN TRAVELS MILES IN WHEELCHAIR AFTER NIGHT OUT IN GLOUCESTER DUE TO LACK OF WAV TAXIS
A disabled man has to travel miles in his wheelchair from Gloucester city centre to his Tuffley home in the early hours after a night out due to the lack of suitable taxis. Sometimers he doesn’t get home until 4.30am or 5am in the morning, in all weathers. Luke Griffin, 22, is among those campaigning for more licensed WAVs in the city. He raised the issue at a recent Gloucester City Council meeting saying how he struggles to get a taxi and has to travel home in his wheelchair with his carer, a family friend, in the early hours of the morning. “It takes me about an hour or so,” he said. “The battery is almost dead by the time I get back. I’d try and ring a taxi in advance but they
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tell me there aren’t any. “I’ve had it before when I’m going home down Stroud Road and had one of the disabled taxis drive past me with a lot of people in the back. "Me and my carer were annoyed about that because they had told me there were no disabled taxis.” Mr Griffin said it would be ideal to have more WAVs in the evenings. “I wish it was like Bristol,” he said. “I got the train to Temple Meads to go shopping there. I came out of the station and there were like 30 disabled-access taxis waiting. If more taxis in Gloucester were WAVs it would solve the problem.” Gloucester council has approved new incentives to try and get cabbies to provide more disability- friendly taxis and PHVs.
The authority is planning to offer a 50 per cent rebate on operator licences to evidence
those who can at least one WAV
available for bookings during all evenings and during weekends The council will continue to review and drive to
increase the
percentage of WAVs available for public use, and promote with hackney and private hire drivers and operators the importance of them providing their service during the evenings and at weekends. Councillors also agreed to write to the secretary of state for disabled people, health and work asking them to consider a change to legislation to give local authorities powers to mandate operating hours of WAVs.
MARCH 2024 PHTM
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