Taxi Driver Online

accusations of illegality in the taxi trade whatever next government intervention tighter controls no change, more likely.

Right I will start from the beginning and maybe you will understand that there was no hidden agenda.
Mr Matthew applied for a saloon plate because of his disability at his hearing he provide x-rays of his legs and letters from doctors to prove his disability to show the council that he was not taking the mickey.He also told the committee that he was having to explain himself to wheelchair users and was always getting told that he was going to be reported. They refused him because they said that no more saloon licences would be granted but that he should apply for a variation to his wav licence that he holds. He was also told at that time that no exemption certificate stickers would be granted and that he should show the letter from the council that explains his situation .It was subsequently discovered that he should have been giving an exemption because section 35 of the DDA would have allowed this.
Mr Matthew then applied for a variation of his wav licence; he had heard no word for 6 months so thought that it should be automatically granted because of the 6 months rule. Hence the reason why I posted a question about this on TDO and was grateful for Gusmacs reply. The council then said that he 6 months rule did not apply to a variation.
This is when he went for his free consultation with the T&G solicitor and asked them to find out about the 6 months rule, they then came back to him and said that there is a case for discrimination and that they would take up his case. I am not sure if because of the Equality bill coming into effect on the 1st of October 2010 but they said they had a good case.

The court case was meant to be for the 18th Jan but the council have said that they do not want to go to court.

So I find it hard to believe that the consequences and repercussions were realized from the start when Mr Matthews approached the council. I do believe now thou that it will have a significant bearing on what happens in Dundee and possible everywhere else. Other drivers in Bruce’s position or anyone who finds themselves in that position in the future will not have to go through the same thing if he wins his case.
So CC if this was someone who you represented would your views still be the same or would you back him up.

you will have to elaborate on what you mean by the law, bearing in mind we are taxi drivers not fecking solicitors.And no its not a crock of shecht spent about a hour righting that to trying and explain better so no need to be all high and mighty

Presumably the point is the same as the reasoning as to why Toots doesn't run a WAV, or 99% of the UK's private cars don't either, come to that

I was alluding to exemption, if Dundee Council was not aware they could give the driver an exemption that's p*ss poor, if your association wasn't aware, that's worse because your association are the ones who should be looking after your members interests.

If the T&G didn't know about the exception I'd be very surprised, in actual fact I'd say that was an untruth.

Again, this whole thing stinks to high heaven, yet I am the one being castigated.

CC

I think there are a few on this thread have completely missed the point!!!

Forget that Dundee have a WAV only policy; that ain't the point.

Now think that YOU are the disabled Dundee Licensed Hackney Carriage driver.

Now think what does the Equality Act 2010 do for you, but not for other Dundee Licensed Hackney Carriage driver, nor for that matter any other Licensed Hackney Carriage drivers in Scotland or England in a WAV only HC LA, UNLESS THEY TOO ARE DISABLED?

I went to the Birmingham Disability Resource Centre this week for a Disability Awareness Course, so I went over this stuff.

This guy & the unions have got the council 'bang to rights'!! They know it & the council knows it!!

But it won't affect other WAVs becoming saloons in Dundee or wherever, unless their licensed drivers are also disabled, so don't worry!!

But it won't affect other WAVs becoming saloons in Dundee or wherever, unless their licensed drivers are also disabled, so don't worry!!

Et tu, Brute?

I think the concern is if this driver gets what he wants it will open the doors for others, who cannot load wheelchairs for whatever reason, to apply for a saloon plate rather than an excemption.

That may be the case, but I am presuming in all of this that the disabled Licensed Dundee driver finds it difficult, painful, unnecessarily uncomfortable, etc, to drive a WAV & is more comfortable in certain saloon cars, which are probably safer for him to drive.

Et tu, Brute?

44 BC March 15.