Taxi Driver Online

January 28, 2008 Monday

Disabled driver makes taxi parking claim

Bridgwater Mercury

A DISABLED driver has claimed taxis parked in disabled spaces force him to find alternative places to stop in Bridgwater, further outside the town centre.

Colin Maggs, from Stockmoor Close, suffers from bad arthritis and uses the two disabled bays in St Mary's Street to park close to the town.

The 62-year-old claims taxis from firm H Cabs often take up the disabled bays, spilling over from the one taxi space next to the H Cabs office - a claim denied by the firm.

Colin said: "I am very angry, this has been going on over the years. I had to park at the other end of town and it's damned annoying.

"I've had to park up by the Engine Room, and walk down - but what if I was in a wheelchair?"

Pearl Weston, owner of H Cabs, said: "No we don't park in the disabled spaces - a lot of people don't realise there actually is a taxi space there as well.

"We have a disabled taxi driver who sometimes parks with his badge in the space when he's not on duty, but I have asked him not to because it confuses some people.

"Some of our drivers sometimes even help disabled drivers park their cars."

Tom Dougall, transport officer at Sedgemoor District Council said plans had been drawn up for a provision of extra taxi bays, which could see other spaces, such as disabled bays, moved around.

He said: "We have had a taxi consultancy, where it was decided the use and layout of the town centre had changed. Plans have now been drawn up for the provision of extra taxi bays - and moving taxi bays around will involve moving other bays around as well.

"The plans should be going out for public consultation in a few weeks and the person involved in this incident is welcome to write in to us and share his view."
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