A disabled Fife woman is facing being stuck at home because of health and safety rules.
Mary Currie, 69, from Kinghorn, has happily used Fife Council’s Dial A Ride scheme for some time.
It is a lifeline for the pensioner as she has very limited mobility after suffering a stroke.
However, the widow was dealt a shocking blow when she was told she would no longer be able to drive her mobility scooter straight on and off the bus.
Until now, Mrs Currie has remained in the scooter while it is placed in the bus by a lift.
But now, she said she would have to get off the scooter while it was placed on board.
Having had a stroke, and suffering paralysis down one side, that is impossible, she added.
“They said it was health and safety,” she added.
She has been told she could use her electric wheelchair, but only after it has been assessed and that could take months.
“They are prepared to let me use it, but after it has been risk assessed, and then cannot tell me when that would be, it could be months,” she added.
Living in Kinghorn, her choice of shop is limited, with the local supermarket have aisles unsuitably narrow for use.
Likening it to being a prisoner in her own home, she said: “I like to get out but I won’t be able to get out because of this.”
Even when she is assessed, using a wheelchair rather than a scooter is not the ideal solution.
“I like the scooter better, I can steer it better than I can use the wheelchair,” she said.
A Fife Council officer said it had never been the local authority’s practice to allow passengers to travel on the passenger lift while on their scooter for health and safety reasons.
Angela Hutchison, the lead professional for demand responsive transport services, added: “While Mrs Currie cannot sit on her scooter while on the passenger lift, we can take her scooter up on the lift independent of Mrs Currie with Mrs Currie then using the lift with the aid of the driver.
“There is no requirement for Mrs Currie to board the vehicle using the steps.”
Ms Hutchison added that the council would arrange to visit Mrs Currie at home to carry out a risk assessment to determine her ability to board the bus and provide any help it can.
