Taxi Driver Online

Disabled taxi driver calls for provost’s resignation
A DISABLED Dundee man who has been a taxi driver for 17 years yesterday called for the resignation of the chairman of the licensing committee, Lord Provost John Letford.

Bruce Matthew’s leg was smashed in an assault three and half years ago, resulting in him permanently dragging his left leg.

But he has continued to work as a taxi driver and was angered by Mr Letford’s comments at the licensing court on Thursday which he branded “against disabled people.”

The Mr Letford criticised taxi drivers who continually fail to pick up disabled customers. He refuted claims by some members of the taxi trade who said they had special dispensations making them exempt from picking up people with difficulties.

Mr Letford went on to say there may be genuine reasons where certain taxi drivers are unable to pick up disabled customers such as when they have their own medical difficulties. However he said, “If they see that is a permanent thing then they should seek alternative employment.”

It is that comment that sparked Mr Matthew’s anger. He said, “I do my job, I just don’t lift any heavy things.”

Mr Matthew also took umbrage with the lord provost’s claim that no taxi drivers have special dispensations allowing them not to pick up disabled people including people in wheelchairs. He said, “Mr Letford stated nobody has a letter exempting them from condition 18 of the taxi driver’s licence, but I have a letter here.”

Condition 18 states that, “The driver of a taxi will offer such assistance as he s able to give to infirm, elderly or disabled passengers when required to do so including assistance with wheelchairs and access into and out of the vehicle.”

Mr Matthew’s letter from the council claims to offer a defence to any complaints and states, “I would propose to keep a copy of the letter from your doctor on file which states that you are physically unable at the moment to handle wheelchair clients due to a severe leg injury.

“As long as that remains the case this would afford you a defence to any complaints that you are in breach of condition 18.”

Mr Matthew said he was hurt by the Mr Letford’s comments, claiming he failed to take into account disabled people who manage to work in the taxi trade. He said, “He should reconsider his position as chairman of the licensing board and his position as lord provost.”

But Dundee Wheelchair Taxi Association chairman Erik Thoresen said, “Well done Mr Letford—this has been a long time in coming. Our position is that, whatever profession someone is in, if they are not fit enough to do it then they shouldn’t be doing it.”

Mr letford is a clown and has made a complete mess of the taxi trade in Dundee he should resign.

Mr Thoresen, with all due respect, if that be the case then 99% of the working disabled population might be out of a job.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

J D you are spot on. Its funny really Mr Mathews was a founder member of the wheelchair association and one of the first to buy a tx2.A association should stick up for its members a not discriminate against them.I think tx op would do a better job .

Applying Mr Thoresens logic it could be said that disabled people who cannot get into a taxi on their own, shouldn't get a taxi?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

The reason why concessions are given to the disabled is for the very fact that they are disabled.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

There were more calls for Dundee's lord provost to resign today on a local radio phone in after his comments about disabled taxi drivers in the local press.The public have said that Mr letford is discriminating against the disabled and that he should review his position.They are angry that Mr letford suggested if the disabled driver was not able to push a wheelchair into his cab he should look for another job.They also said that does mr letford also feel that if a customer cannot get into a shop unaided should they not be allowed to shop.

I don't know if my song worked but Lord Provost John Letford has resigned from the labour party,i am going to keep on singing till he is out altogether.

Lord Provost John Letford today denied he has handed the SNP the keys to Dundee City Council in return for keeping his chains of office
His decision means it now looks inevitable the SNP will take control of the administration at a special council meeting next Monday, meaning Mr Letford has essentially forced his former colleagues out of power.
The Lochee Ward councillor was in a bullish mood as he launched a spirited defence

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/outpu ... 090t0.shtm

this all sounds good to me,letford is now one of the biggest backstabbers in scottish history plus with it taking so long for the snp to take conrol of dundee i cant see them risking it all by favouring any taxi /ph companys,with the office licenses due soon we could be in for an interesting year in dundee,but on the other hand we could be sitting typing on this website cursing the snp and beckoning the conservatives back,the independants are out youngy/letford, i hope the snp do whats right

Like getting shot of the ilegal PH, and the all WAV policy

the all wav policy is ok my me, i already own one

I really don’t have a problem if they do or they don’t go wav or mixed fleet as long as the decision is made for the benefit of the public but the individual taxi drivers are only interested in what’s best for them. But let’s be honest a new administration can only help to improve our future.

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Watch out curiosity killed the cat

I think the taxi trade in dundee will have to give SNP a bit of time to sort out the problems.The previous administration have made such a balls of it ,it will take time to sort out.

The wav situation is going to be taken out of the councils hands .But i think they will at least here our concerns and act in the best interest of the taxi trade.

They have given us support in the past and have said publicly that the Dundee taxi drivers get a raw deal.And i for one ,is going to give them time and my support.

this situation is getting dodgier by the day
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009 ... 1343t0.asp
i hope this doesnt end up with letford spilling the beans on deals with ph companys ,this whole situation has came about just after the mayfield by election in which davie young made his first polilical stance,there is nothing better than a lot of public slagging off to bring out those skeletons in the cupboard

This is going to get very interesting i have heard that the shredder has been going all day .What is also interesting is the part that Ms McIlquham and Mr Stephen may have had.The Dundee public have said for years that the labour council was full of corruption.

On a personal note i find it hard to believe that Mr borthwick has anything to do with this but with politics you never know.