46 PRIVATE HIRE AND TAXI MONTHLY
MOBILITY MATTERS
GREENOCK SERVICE IS JUST NOT FARE
A Greenock taxi driver has collected hundreds of signatures in his bid to gain a disabled access licence. Driver Patrick Sweeney, 36, is waiting for the licence which would allow him to drive his own
disabled-user-
friendly vehicle. Mr Sweeney, who cur- rently drives with Clyde Cabs, has picked up around 500 signatures of support from clients and local residents. He told the Greenock Telegraph: “I have had hundreds of signatures from disabled and able- bodied people who can’t understand why it is so difficult to get a licence. “Customers tell me if they try to order a dis- abled-access taxi they may have to wait for up to an hour. “Why should disabled peoplenothave the same
service as other people? “The council says it is going to have a profes- sional survey carried out measuring the need for the service. I have hun- dreds of signatures which showit is needed. “I am only trying to pro- vide a public service in an area with a low per- centage of disabled access taxis.” Patrick’s bid has won the backing of Cllr Jim MacLeod, who is a wheelchair user. Cllr MacLeod said: “We have been looking at this issue since 1994. My own personal feeling is that there is a need for more wheelchair acces- sible vehicles on the road. I’ve been affected by itmyself. “Renfrewshire has a fleet which is 70 to 80 per cent compliant and ours is only eight per cent. There is a lot
more to be done. Mr Sweeney’s petition will certainly do no harm.” Greenock man Brian Irvine,who is supporting Mr Sweeney’s petition, added: “I shouldn’t have to book a taxi two hours in advance. There are plenty of people out there who would use wheelchair accessible taxis.” Cllr Ronnie Ahlfeld, who chairs the Inverclyde Council committee which handles taxi licensing, said: “The general public is getting a good service from the taxi operators. But I have great sympathy for people with disabili- ties
and the
non-availability of taxis. The council is trying to bridge that gap by hav- ing a taxi demand survey carried out and we are hopeful this will be concluded soon.”
PARK INSURANCE SERVICES NEW MINIBUS FACILITY
We are one of the Southwest’s BIGGEST Taxi Insurers
• WE HAVE ACCESS TO OVER 10 MAJOR TAXI INSURERS
• NEW MINIBUS INSURANCE SCHEME WITH MAJOR INSURER • PUBLIC & EMPLOYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE FROM £45.00 • WE OFFER A PERSONAL FRIENDLY SERVICE •FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS •PREMIUMS AS LOW AS £500.00
WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT SALOONS, MPVs, MINIBUSES & BLACK CABS
0117 955 6835 At Park you deal direct with experts
E.mail:
quotations@parkinsurance.co.uk www.taxisecure.co.uk
NO CALL CENTRES Fax: 0117 955 1098
Taxi Secure is a trading style of PARK INSURANCE SERVICES of 323 CHURCH ROAD, ST. GEORGE, BRISTOL BS5 8AA
MAY 2009
CRITICISM OVER ABERDEEN TAXI CARD DECISION
A member of a multiple sclerosis charity has criticised Aberdeen City Council’s decision to revoke taxi conces- sion cards for the disabled. Dr Alison Ritchie, of the Multiple Sclerosis Soci- ety Scotland, called the removal of the cards from those with serious mobility problems “bonkers”. Those who receive a higher rate of disabled living allowance from the council have lost their taxi concession privilege, but those who receive a lower disability allowance will still have their fares par-
tially paid by the local authority. The cards offer an average concession of around ten per cent with higher discounts for short journeys. Dr Ritchie has written to Cllr Gordon Leslie, the health and social work spokesman for the council’s Liberal Democrat/SNP admin- istration, demanding an explanation. She told the Aberdeen Press and Journal: “What is really upset- ting is that it is just the most vulnerable people who are affected, as those with less severe disabilities are allowed
to keep their cards. “It is only those who receive a higher rate of disability allowance, such as amputees, the wheelchair-bound and the blind, who have been affected.” Cllr Gordon Leslie said: “I am confident that those who receive the higher rate of disability allowance can afford to get around without a taxi card.” An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman added: “The Council agreed
to make
changes to the taxi card scheme provision to make a saving of £150,000.”
£78K NEW ACCESSIBLE TAXI BOOST FOR INVERCLYDE
Inverclyde Taxis have invested £78,000 in new disabled-friendly cabs. The three cars are kit- ted out with wide ramps for customers who use wheelchairs. This has been widely welcomed by passen- gers and campaigning group Inverclyde Coun- cil on Disability. Helen Gemmell, who has spina bifida, told the Greenock Tele- graph: “It’s very difficult for me to get around and there should be more taxis like these, especially with wide ramps. I’ve fallen off other ramps before and I feel safer in this taxi.” The foldaway ramp rolls out of the floor at the door and onto the
pavement. The passen- ger can then reverse their chair down the ramp. Helen, 23,
from
Greenock, said: “I’m young and I should be out and about. These taxis mean that I’ll be able to go out more often. I love shopping and going to the cine- ma. They’re very comfortable and the drivers are very helpful.” The firm says the intro- duction of
the
wheelchair access taxis is part of its commit- ment to give the best possible service to cus- tomers. Henry Glasgow, man- aging director of Inverclyde
Taxis,
added: “We are delight- ed to announce the addition of the latest
wheelchair accessible models to our fleet. “All cars are also fitted with the latest GPS technology, as installed across our entire fleet, ensuring all of our pas- sengers receive the highest service levels from Inverclyde Taxis.” The new cabs have also been welcomed by a Campaign group. Councillor
Jim
MacLeod, of Inverclyde Council on Disability, said: “The more wheel- chair access vehicles on the road the better - it’s good news. “I have called for this for quite some time. Renfrewshire is 80 per cent compliant while Inverclyde is only eight per cent at the moment but certainly it’s a step in the right direction.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140
