Taxi Driver Online

Special Needs Taxi In One-way Street Gaffe

15th September 2008

A taxi company which was hired to take special needs children to school has had its contract terminated after parents complained of a car being driven the wrong way up a one-way street.

An investigation has been launched by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council into complaints about Cardiff-based A2Z taxis.

Sam Barnes, a mum of two children with special needs, from Treforest, was among those to report her concerns. She claims a driver of A2Z drove the wrong way up Kingsland Terrace in the town.

She also complained that the adult escort, who by law has to accompany the children with special needs to ensure they do not distract the driver and remain safe during the journey, sat in the front rather than with the children in the back. A series of complaints was also made that the escort was unable to speak English fluently and could not communicate fully with the children.

Abdul Ullah, the boss of A2Z, admitted there may have been a problem on the first day of the contract but said he was stunned by RCT’s decision and denies any wrong-doing.

“There was a complaint the first day that the driver had driven the wrong way up a one-way street,” he said.

“I spoke to the parent and the driver and while he denied this had happened, I took over the school run myself to make sure it was done properly. I have other school contracts with other LEAs and I have never had a problem. I was shocked when RCT terminated the contract. Nothing like this has happened before and I have many contracts. I will be challenging this decision.”

Ms Barnes said she was so concerned she had made at least 50 calls to the council’s transport department and visited the council offices twice in a week to ensure that action was taken.

“I felt so strongly about this,” she said. “This is about the safety of children and children with special needs, children who need very clear instruction. If somebody is not able to communicate properly with them, they can feel unsettled and this is what happened.”

A council spokeswoman confirmed that as a result of complaints, it had terminated a contract with one operator, adding: “The leader of our council, Councillor Russell Roberts, has called for an investigation into these issues and this will be reported to Cabinet as soon as is possible.”


Source; WalesOnline.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Reading between the lines here, it looks like the mother is racist, and does not want her kids anywhere near Asians or Muslims

The mum is clearly up for a ruck.

But supplying a driver that drove up a one way street the wrong way, and an escort for special needs kids that can't converse with them properly, is more than a tad daft.

In other words his own fault.

_________________
IDFIMH

Its wales....I dont understand the language either...

if it had been gwynedd council there WOULD have been a welsh language stipulation, for sure.

and i know, cos i was there.....

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most