Disabled taxi dispute could see legal action against Coventry City Council June 23, 2012A dispute over black cabs failing to stop for disabled passengers could see taxi drivers take Coventry City Council to court.
Disabled people in the city sparked the row when they complained they were being left in the cold by taxi drivers who refused to pick them up.
But cabbies claim larger electric wheelchairs simply do not fit in the Coventry-made black cabs – and say the council is refusing to let them switch some of the city’s taxi fleet to bigger foreign manufactured vans.
They claim the council is trying to protect jobs at taxi manufacturer LTI in Holyhead Road.
But they are warning legal action could be mounted if they can’t choose their own make of specially adapted vehicle.
Wheelchair users have told the Telegraph about the problems they face getting home.
City College student Josh Sapey, 24, who has cerebral palsy, said: “After nights out, we are always left at the side of the road whilst able-bodied people are picked up instead. Once, a cab drove off after we opened the door.”
Stephanie Holt, 28, from Tile Hill, who also has cerebral palsy, said: “It happens all the time when I go out in my electric wheelchair. It could be because they can’t be bothered with us.”
Councillor Richard Sandy (Labour, Westwood) said: “Late-night driving is not an option for wheelchair users and buses don’t run late at night.
“It has a negative effect on living an independent lifestyle.
“For those taxis who are allowed to pick up some wheelchair users and don’t, I’d suggest filing a complaint with the council.”
Imran Zaman, chairman of Coventry Taxi Association, said standard LTI-built black cabs could only take manual wheelchairs or small electric ones – and agreed any driver failing to pick those up should be complained about. But he said larger electric wheelchairs only fit in sideways, which flouted health and safety rules.
He added: “We have been lobbying the council for these specially adapted vehicles for two years but, because of a law dating back to 1885, taxis must have a 25ft turning circle, meaning specially adapted vehicles don’t fit the criteria.
“The council has also said they want to protect the black cab as a Coventry-built icon employing Coventry people.”
Bill Parish, from Allied Vehicles, which provides the adapted vehicles, said: “In the past we have mounted a legal challenge to Liverpool Council to let us provide taxis for disabled people and we won.
“We wouldn’t want it to get to that stage in Coventry but we would consider it.
“If they have these vehicles in Liverpool and Birmingham, why can’t they in Coventry?”
A spokesman for Coventry City Council said the issue was due to be considered by Coun Lindsley Harvard shortly.
City black cab maker LTI said: “Coventry’s licensing standards are among the highest for taxis.
“All our taxis fit ‘reference’ wheelchairs set to special measurements used on other vehicles like trains and buses. We provide what is the recognised standard.”
Source; http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/c ... -31242540/
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