The Dundee Hackney Association has criticised the licensing committee’s decision to allow a disabled taxi driver the right to change his style of cab.
The committee allowed Bruce Matthew a variation of licence which means he will now be allowed to drive a saloon cab and not the London-style cab he had been driving.
Mr Matthew whose leg was smashed in an assault six years ago, meaning he finds it difficult to move equipment like wheelchairs said it will make it easier to refuse to help wheelchair-bound passengers into his car.
However, the move had provoked outrage from the association, which claims Mr Matthew should have continued to be personally exempt from helping disabled passengers instead of changing his car.
Chairman Erik Thoresen said: ”We think it’s all wrong and this licence should not have been granted. If he has a saloon car does that mean he’s exempt from helping people put stuff into the boot of that?”
Mr Thoresen said Mr Matthew should have remained in the London-style TX2 car he was driving previously and continued to explain to people he was physically unable to help.
He added: ”If we’ve got to refuse someone in a wheelchair you expect to explain to them why you can’t. Some places have stickers on the windscreen stating ‘sorry I can’t help.’
”He can continue to drive a wheelchair-accessible vehicle but still have an exemption to not push people in.”
The group is now challenging the committee’s decision, but convener Stewart Hunter said it is a wasted effort.
”They’ve no right to appeal. We have a strict policy but we are allowed in exceptional circumstances (to make variations),” he said.
”It isn’t a decision we take lightly and it would be difficult for anyone to come in and get a variation. The evidence we were given (in Mr Matthew’s case) shows it will make a significant difference to him.”