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| Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelchairs http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33097 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelchairs |
Visitor told she had wrong kind of wheelchair for Worthing taxis https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/v ... -1-8586834 Eventually a driver from one taxi company walked her to her hotel A wheelchair user, who travelled from London for a weekend at the seaside, was unable to catch a taxi from Worthing station because she was told there were no vehicles that could accommodate her wheelchair. Gail Hutson, from Surbiton, who is totally paralysed down one side of her body and uses a power wheelchair rather than a manual chair, was told she had ‘the wrong kind of wheelchair’ for local taxis when she arrived at the station on Friday night. The 60-year-old said she was told that accessible taxis in Worthing do not have the right kind of ramp to support the heavier weight of power wheelchairs. Gail spent an hour at the station after arriving at 8.30pm trying to arrange transport to the Ardington Hotel in Steyne Gardens, before resigning herself to the fact she would have to travel there herself. “It’s crazy,” said Gail, who is also partially blind. “It was getting dark and I didn’t know where the dropped curbs were.” Fortunately, she said the ‘very kind’ owner of Arrow Taxis arranged for a driver to walk her to the hotel. She said: “I think that deserves a big thank you. He didn’t have to do that, it was a totally busy time of night. “There are good people in Worthing.” Gail, who presents a show on the hospital radio station Radio Wey, said of the experience: “I feel robbed, I lost that whole evening with all the faffing around. And that kind of sets you up for the whole weekend.” After spending two days in Worthing, in which she visited the pier and went to the cinema, Gail was faced with the same problem on Sunday when it was time to return to the station. Again, she had to make her own way there. Gail said her experience meant she would not be returning to the town. “Worthing is not a seaside I can come back to,” she said. A Worthing Borough Council spokesman said: “While we understand the individual’s frustration in this case, as the licensing authority we recognise that private hire vehicles are supplied by independent operators who are entitled by law to refuse passengers on safety grounds. “In the case of large wheelchairs or mobility scooters, it is often extremely difficult to safely carry those passengers. “This is due to the additional weight and the lack of specialist equipment to safely secure the wheelchairs in the vehicle. “However, we do recognise the importance of improving transport options for those with limited mobility which is why we are taking steps to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles. “This number is increasing each year. “We also recognise that it is not reasonable to expect that all licensed vehicles will be able to accommodate every non-standard wheelchair. “For some of the heavier and larger wheelchairs or scooters specialised transportation may be required. “A number of companies and community transport providers across both Adur and Worthing offer wheelchair accessible vehicles but these may need to be booked in advance." |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Thu Aug 02, 2018 9:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Quote: A Worthing Borough Council spokesman said: “While we understand the individual’s frustration in this case, as the licensing authority we recognise that private hire vehicles are supplied by independent operators who are entitled by law to refuse passengers on safety grounds." 
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Aug 02, 2018 10:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Maybe this is a case of a council not licensing rear entry WAVs that can take the heavier wheelchairs including the electric ones. But 10 out of 10 to the fella who walked the lady down to her destination. 
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| Author: | Nidge2 [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Sussex wrote: Maybe this is a case of a council not licensing rear entry WAVs that can take the heavier wheelchairs including the electric ones. But 10 out of 10 to the fella who walked the lady down to her destination. Loading from the rear is dangerous. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
The big heavy electric wheelchairs can realistically only safely be handled by tail lift vehicles |
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| Author: | grandad [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 8:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Nidge2 wrote: Sussex wrote: Maybe this is a case of a council not licensing rear entry WAVs that can take the heavier wheelchairs including the electric ones. But 10 out of 10 to the fella who walked the lady down to her destination. Loading from the rear is dangerous. That old chestnut again. 
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| Author: | edders23 [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Nidge2 wrote: Sussex wrote: Maybe this is a case of a council not licensing rear entry WAVs that can take the heavier wheelchairs including the electric ones. But 10 out of 10 to the fella who walked the lady down to her destination. Loading from the rear is dangerous. anyone would think you have an obsession with things entering from the rear 
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| Author: | grandad [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 5:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
edders23 wrote: Nidge2 wrote: Sussex wrote: Maybe this is a case of a council not licensing rear entry WAVs that can take the heavier wheelchairs including the electric ones. But 10 out of 10 to the fella who walked the lady down to her destination. Loading from the rear is dangerous. anyone would think you have an obsession with things entering from the rear
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| Author: | Nidge2 [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
grandad wrote: That old chestnut again. That's why some councils don't licence them. |
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| Author: | grandad [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Nidge2 wrote: grandad wrote: That old chestnut again. That's why some councils don't licence them. How many of them? do you have a list? |
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| Author: | sasha [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
"After spending two days in Worthing, in which she visited the pier and went to the cinema,...." So can manage to get around Worthing for 2 days in a powered chair but can't manage to get 0.8 miles from the hotel to train station 
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Aug 03, 2018 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Nidge2 wrote: Loading from the rear is dangerous. I would say in B&H there must be 200+ rear entry WAVs. Never had a problem with any of them. |
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| Author: | grandad [ Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
sasha wrote: "After spending two days in Worthing, in which she visited the pier and went to the cinema,...." So can manage to get around Worthing for 2 days in a powered chair but can't manage to get 0.8 miles from the hotel to train station She may have had some luggage that she could't carry at the same time as using the wheelchair. |
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| Author: | bloodnock [ Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
A Push wheelchairs is one thing but an electric Chair/Mobility buggy is something else entirely, it would take a Scammel tank transporter to shift some of those brutes, I think it would be fair to give some guidance to determine what is reasonably acceptable for a WAV and It's driver transport and whats not, anything other than an average Push Wheelchair or Similar lightweight chair with a Battery pack and motor should be acceptable, but no one should be forced into taking those HGV wheelchairs that way several cwt with user on board. That's a job for a specialist not a hack. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Sat Aug 04, 2018 2:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Woman told Worthing WAV ramps can't support powerwheelch |
Sussex wrote: Nidge2 wrote: Loading from the rear is dangerous. I would say in B&H there must be 200+ rear entry WAVs. Never had a problem with any of them. well they would in Brighton wouldn't they
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