OAP left stranded in Bradford on Avon by new taxi firm
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/4737617.OAP_left_stranded_in_Bradford_on_Avon_by_new_taxi_firm/
A taxi boss has apologised after one of his drivers left a 96-year-old woman stranded in Bradford on Avon.
For many years Catherine Barrett has enjoyed a regular return trip with Ashley Cars, who were taken over by Bath firm Abbey Taxis last month, from her home in Winsley into Bradford on Avon to do her shopping.
However on Thursday Mrs Barrett was left to rely on the generosity of local resident Barbara Bridgeman to drive her home when the taxi failed to show up, leaving her stranded at Silver Street Chemist.
When Mrs Bridgeman called Abbey Cars to find out where they were, the firm said it had tried calling Mrs Barrett at home, to say they couldn’t make it due to a high demand for cars – despite knowing she would be in Bradford, where they had dropped her off hours earlier.
Mrs Bridgeman said: “I was so incensed. This lady could have been sat there for hours.
“She has done this journey week in and week out.
“The lady was waiting for a service they weren’t going to provide and they made no effort, other than call her at home. It defies all logic.”
Mrs Barrett, who is unable to use buses due to problems with her right leg, said: “Mrs Bridgeman was most kind. I would have been stranded if it wasn’t for her.
“I have used the taxis once a week for three or four years. There was never any trouble until they were taken on by Abbey Taxis. Ashley Cars were always there on the dot.”
John Innerd, chairman of Abbey Taxis, said: “I was astonished we let her down. The manager is going out to make this right.
“All the cars were busy and we didn’t have a car to pick her up. I am sorry this has happened.
The driver that brought her in has left us.”
According to Mr Innerd, the driver left the company on Monday in a separate dispute over finances.
Martin Smith, manager of the taxi firm, said he would be writing to Mrs Barrett personally to apologise for the error and admitted it was wrong to have called her at home, while she was out, to say they wouldn’t be able to pick her up.
He said: “It was a clear lack of joined-up thinking but it’s not a problem we generally have.”
Mrs Barrett has accepted the firm’s apologies and has agreed to use them again in future, after Mr Smith presented her with flowers at her home on Wednesday.
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