‘More needs done’: ‘Disheartening’ lack of wheelchair-accessible taxis in Moray
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CALLS are being made for more wheelchair-accessible taxis to be made available in Moray.
A group in Elgin have come together to appeal for more to be done having all had similarly difficult experiences booking taxis for a wheelchair user.
Currently, there are seven taxis and 17 private vehicles available for wheelchair users in Moray - with no-to-limited availability at school-run times, or after 6pm, without a booking.
Dot Bremner, from New Elgin, is leading the push for more to be done. Dot, whose husband Jim is in a wheelchair, said: "There are no wheelchair-accessible taxis at school-run times or after 6pm.
"Are people in wheelchairs expected to just go to bed at 6pm? Even if you can get somewhere, there is no guarantee you are going to get home again.
"If I want a taxi then I order it, just pick up the phone and it's there. It's not fair that people in wheelchairs can't do the same."
Dot has been in contact with Moray Council on the issue, but has been left feeling the matter is unlikely to be resolved.
"Moray Council say that because they have only had one complaint in a number of years there is no problem,” Dot added.
“They thought it would cost too much to buy wheelchair-accessible taxis and that may end up with not enough taxis being on the market.
"There is also the issue that they can't tell businesses what to do and when to work.”
Sandra Mone, from Elgin, had to cancel her mother’s dental appointment due to being unable to get her there.
Sandra’s mum has Alzheimer’s and lifting her into the family car was not possible.
“My mum needed to get a dentist as a wisdom tooth came out and the root was still in the gum,” she explained.
"She wasn’t well and fit to get into the car so a wheelchair-accessible taxi was the only way of getting there. We phoned a few companies and nobody could accompany us.
"We had to cancel the appointment and wait to get my mum a home visit.
"It was months before she got referred and somebody came out and did a home visit – but thankfully she wasn't in pain.”
One wheelchair-user, who preferred to remain anonymous, was left ‘really upset’ after missing a much-anticipated concert due to a taxi company error.
"We pre-booked a taxi a week prior for a Neil Diamond concert at Elgin Town Hall and it didn't turn up,” she said. “My friend booked it and they said it wasn't in the diary.
"It could have been a genuine mistake or misunderstanding, and the taxi company were good enough to reimburse my friends.
"But that night I was really upset because I hadn't been out for over a year with being in hospital and it was a night out. Unfortunately it didn't happen.
"I have not long been in a wheelchair so everything is new to me and there are a lot of problems, but you can overcome them.
"The council are not pursuing this because there was only one complaint, but that's one too many, really, and they should be looking into it.
"I feel sorry for folk - I didn't realise there was this level of problem. I have just realised since I have been disabled.
"I was a carer so I had some idea. Now I'm in that position I can see a lot of things are not right and this is one of them.
"It's disheartening because there are a lot of people that need the help."
Moray Council - like all local authorities in Scotland - is recommended to have 20 per cent of taxis be accessible. At present, 16 per cent of Moray’s taxis (24 out of 147) are accessible.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: “We cannot control the hours a taxi or private hire vehicle operates.
“Those are independent businesses and they can operate their vehicles and drivers according to their business model.
“Requiring, as a matter policy, all new vehicles to be accessible, was previously considered and is being kept under review.
“We are gathering information and examining policies regarding wheelchair-accessible taxis in other local authority areas.
“The Scottish Government has a guideline for 20 per cent of both taxis and private hire vehicles to be accessible.
“In Moray, there are 24 accessible taxis and private hire vehicles out of 147, which is just over 16 per cent.”
