Taxi Driver Online

Bromsgrove councillor slams district council's decision to refuse policy making taxis wheelchair accessible

A BROMSGROVE councillor has slammed the district council’s decision to refuse a policy making all taxis in the town wheelchair accessible.

Following a year-long consultation members of the council’s Licensing Committee decided there was no evidence to make all licensed taxis across the district wheelchair accessible.

Instead the committee decided the 13 already wheelchair accessible taxis (seven Hackney Carriages and six private hire vehicles) be promoted more prominently.

Coun Christine McDonald, who represents Rubery South, said Bromsgrove District Council ‘needed to bring itself into the 21st century’ and ‘remove such unwanted needless discrimination against the disabled.’

“I was embarrassed to be a member of Bromsgrove District Council when it refused a policy to ensure all New Hackney Cabs would over a ten year period become wheelchair accessible.

“It is absolutely deplorable that a council condones such discrimination against the disabled.

“While neighbouring authorities have all brought in policies that all New Hackney Cabs have to be wheelchair accessible, Bromsgrove has refused to do the same.

“This is clear discrimination and I am sure if one of the councillors used a wheelchair it would be a different story.

“Anyone using a wheelchair knows how difficult it is in Bromsgrove to get hold of a taxi that is wheelchair compliant.”

Committee Chairman Coun Rita Dent, said: “While the outcome was that members were not satisfied there was sufficient evidence to support amending the council’s policy the outcome to promote the right taxis to meet our residents’ needs was really positive.

“We are now planning our promotional campaign.”

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Why?

Why promote WAV work when you can't cope at present?

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IDFIMH

What evidence is there to say that they can't cope? The word of one councillor?

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Grandad,