GROUPS REPRESENTING disabled people across Dundee have welcomed a decision to scrap an additional taxi fare for transporting wheelchairs and walkers.
Dundee City Council’s licensing committee yesterday approved a proposal to do away with the additional 30p charge levied at people wishing to transport items designed to assist their mobility.
Currently there is an additional 30p charge for every parcel or item carried in the boot of taxis.
Only children’s buggies and bags of groceries are exempt from this charge but the trade recommended that “any item designed to assist the mobility of taxi users such as wheelchairs or walkers also be exempt from the additional charge”.
Council officer Stuart Galloway told the committee: “We have had some complaints from disabled people that it’s a 30p charge for wheelchairs.
“We felt this was outrageous.”
The committee’s decision to do away with the charge will now be advertised for a period of one calendar month and if there is no objection the plan to scrap the charge will come into effect from April.
Licensing board convener Stewart Hunter praisedthe city’s taxi drivers for pressing through the proposal.
“Obviously we had a complaint that someone going into a taxi with a walker had been charged 30p for it,” he said.
“This is a successful decision. This was an initiative of the trade itself that this charge should be abolished.
“I think this is the right thing to do and says a lot of the trade not only that they were willing to pass it but that they came up with a lot of the wording.”
Disability groups across the city lauded the move.
Laura Scott, manager of the Inclusion Group, said: “It should never have happened in the first place.
“I don’t think a lot of people knew about it and just assumed it was part of their normal fare.”
She added: “I think the taxi service has improved a lot for people with disabilities in recent years.”
The Inclusion Group is a charity formed by a group of parents and professionals, who wanted to see more inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities andadditional support needs.
It has a number of different projects working towards supporting people within mainstream activities.
Jan Goodall of Dundee Celebrate Age Network also praised the decision.
She said: “I think it’s very welcome. Ihad no idea people are being ripped off like that.
“I think it’s an excellent thing, it’s very progressive.”
At the same meeting the licensing committee approved the annual review of taxi fares. A 3.86% increase was used to calculate the new fares which will come into effect in April.
The new daytime tariff will rise from £2.87 to £2.98 and the weekday evening tariff will rise from £3.16 to £3.28.
The weekend evening tariff will rise from £3.44 to £3.58 and during the festive period the tariff will rise from £4.02 to £4.17.
However, there will be no increase to the charges for additional yardage in any tariffs.
ksmyth@thecourier.co.uk