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27
Aug 2024
Plans to increase number of wheelchair-accessible taxis in North Yorkshire
Plans are to be tabled to make all new hackney carriage taxis in North Yorkshire wheelchair-accessible to increase the number of vehicles.
North Yorkshire Council has proposed changing its taxi licensing policy to ensure cabs are accessible to disabled passengers as part of a new inclusive service plan.
The move follows the council's introduction of a single licence policy for the county, which means drivers can operate anywhere in North Yorkshire.
Officers are now proposing to amend the policy and make all new applications for hackney carriage vehicles to be a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or zero-emission vehicle from April 2025.
The changes would also mean that renewals for licences would have to abide by the same criteria from January 2030.
The council has argued that the move will help to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the county. There are currently only 70 registered wheelchair-accessible vehicles in North Yorkshire - one for every 9,000 people.
Cllr Greg White, the council’s executive member for licensing, said:
We remain committed to ensuring the availability of an accessible and affordable taxi service across North Yorkshire, especially for those who are particularly reliant on it as a means of travel.
In the past, we have explored other incentives to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles. However, the number in North Yorkshire remains steady, so we are proposing to take a bold step and require all new applications for hackney carriages to be either a wheelchair-accessible vehicles or zero-emission vehicle, along with a phasing out period for existing vehicles.
This new approach, along with our inclusive service plan, shows that we’re serious about improving services, which are invaluable to so many in our community to assist in just living their everyday lives, getting to work, medical appointments, education or meeting up with friends.
However, Richard Fieldman, who has operated a taxi in Ripon for 29 years, said the changes would only make it more expensive for drivers to join the trade.
He said the move to a single licensing policy for North Yorkshire has already made it harder for cab drivers to make an income.
Mr Fieldman said:
Drivers are not coming into the trade because of the expense and lack of income. Bringing this policy in will not help.
Drivers will not go to the expense of getting a wheelchair accessible vehicle on top of the other expenses involved. It will not increase wheelchair-accessible vehicles because new applications will not want the expense.
A report on the planned changes will go to a council licensing and registration committee on September 3.
Any recommendations from the committee will be presented to North Yorkshire Council’s executive on September 17.
If the executive approves a consultation on the proposals, anyone wishing to comment will be able to do so via the council’s website for 12 weeks
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