DUMFRIES and Galloway has the second lowest number of taxis for disabled people in the country.
Only two per cent of taxis have access for disabled passengers.
Graeme Lundy, who was the first man in the region to launch a taxi firm specifically for disabled passengers, has criticised the figures.
Mr Lundy who suffers from cerebral palsy started Wheels Within Wheels after he noticed a huge gap in the market.
But he says he there is “no excuse” for taxis not being accessible for the disabled.
He told the Standard: “I am disabled myself and know how difficult it is for disabled people to get around the town. It can be very difficult and taxi firms should be accessible to everyone, there is no excuse.
“It is not realistic or viable to expect 100 per cent of taxis to have wheelchair access but it should be a lot more than two per cent of the fleet.”
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown is calling on the council to introduce a subsidy or grant system to encourage taxi firms to increase their number of wheelchair accessible cars.
The call comes after figures show that there are only seven wheelchair accessible taxis and four wheelchair accessible private cars in Dumfries and Galloway, which equates to only 2.4 per cent of licensed vehicles in the region.
The politician said: “Only a fraction of our region’s taxis can accommodate a wheelchair. In a rural area like ours that makes life very difficult.
“Being able to easily get to work, go the shops or meet friends is something those not in a wheelchair can all too readily take for granted. I know from talking with constituents that the poor availability of suitable taxis has a huge impact on their quality of life and can make them feel like a prisoner in their own homes.”
Under new laws agreed by the council’s licensing board last year, taxi drivers across Dumfries and Galloway have until 2016 to make every vehicle wheelchair accessible or they will risk losing their licences.
The Coalition of Disabled People believe no renewals of existing licences should be made unless they are accessible.
Heather Hall, development manager for the coalition, said: “We understand that drivers will have to invest a lot of money in better vehicles, but the taxi trade in this region has got away with it for too many years while the rest of the country has moved on.”
They are also calling for taxis to be metered to ensure clearer prices are in place.
Heather insists more accessible taxis will “dramatically” improve the quality of life for disabled people.
The council is presently reviewing the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles.
A Dumfries and Galloway Council spokesperson said: “Part of this comprehensive review will relate to accessibility including, although not exclusively, wheelchair accessibility. Consideration of this crucial issue will be assisted by local research to which the council and NHS have contributed.
“This is being undertaken by the Transport Research Institute.”
http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-ne ... -27171260/
Login
Register
FAQ
