Taxi Driver Online

Disabled bay row stops taxis

The town's taxi and disabled facilities are being reviewed
A taxi boss has suspended his special service for disabled people after claiming he and his drivers are verbally abused by other motorists.
Lee Lewis, who runs Lee's Cars in Porthcawl, said he was also forced to stop the service because of a lack of loading bays for disabled passengers.

He said his drivers received abuse from other motorists when helping his disabled customers out of the cab.

Bridgend Council are carrying out a review of the town's facilities.

Mr Lewis said that he was "frustrated" by the situation which he said was is caused because there were not enough adequate bays for taxis to stop to allow disabled passengers to disembark.

"I employed a driver who had a minibus especially designed to cater for disabled passengers," he said.

I didn't want to stop the service but it got to the point that I was getting no end of grief off other motorists

Lee Lewis, taxi driver

"But he was getting so much abuse that he finished.

"We have so many disabled passengers and I felt we couldn't let them down so I bought a minibus and had it converted for disabled use.

"But I've decided to stop the service because I was getting so much verbal abuse while I was unloading the passengers because there isn't any dedicated disabled unloading bays.

"I didn't want to stop the service but it got to the point that I was getting no end of grief off other motorists."

Mr Lewis said that he was unhappy about suspending the service but felt he had no choice.

"It is very frustrating for me because you build up a relationship with your regulars and I feel so awful when they ring me and I have to tell them I can't take them into town anymore," he said.

This taxi service is vital to the disabled people living in the town and who visit the town

Cllr Cliff Hopkins

He said that he would resume the service when more disabled loading bays were created.

Survey

Porthcawl town councillor Cliff Hopkins is supporting Mr Lewis and has presented Bridgend Council with proposals for where suitable bays could be created.

"This issue has got to be addressed straight away because we have got to cater for everyone," he said.

A spokesman for Bridgend Council said that there were informal bays available in the town

"In the light of the recent complaint, the council is undertaking a survey to assess the need to improve taxi and associated disabled facilities within Porthcawl town centre," he added.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Is there anyone on here that believes a word of that?

If the bloke wants new bays, then fair enough, but don't give all this s*** about abuse and stopping the service.

But then again it is being aimed at dosey officials and councillors.

_________________
IDFIMH

[edited by admin]
you know councillors usually know when they are being conned but taxidrivers do it continualy.

all taxidrivers get abused all the time! usualy by of duty private hire drivers and bus drivers.

A tad cynical?

Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin