“A Missed Opportunity for Equality”: Campaigners Warn Council’s Taxi Rules Will Not Fix Vehicle Shortage
Disability Action Yorkshire (DAY) and the North Yorkshire Disability Forum (NYDF) have expressed deep concern following a decision by North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Committee to adopt a taxi licensing policy they warn will fail to address a "critical shortage" of wheelchair-accessible taxis.
The committee ruled that all new and replacement taxis must be either zero-emission, hybrid electric, or wheelchair accessible. However, campaigners argue that by treating environmental standards and accessibility as a choice rather than a joint requirement, the council is incentivising the trade to continue opting for non-accessible saloon cars.
Currently, North Yorkshire has just one wheelchair-accessible taxi for every 10,250 people, compared to a national rural average of one per 8,150.
Jackie Snape, Chief Executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, commented:
"This decision is about whether disabled residents will have the same practical access to taxi services as everyone else. The council has treated accessibility and environmental progress as competing options rather than priorities that should move forward together. By adopting the option that wheelchair users ranked lowest in the consultation, the council has missed a vital opportunity to advance equality and ensure a fair service for all residents."
The charity highlighted that the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis in the region has already dropped from 67 to 60 in the last year, despite an overall increase in the taxi fleet.
Ian Lawson, Chair of the NYDF Accessible Transport Group, added:
"To believe the shortage of wheelchair taxis will disappear under this policy is wishful thinking. Financially, it makes sense for drivers to replace their vehicles with second-hand Euro 6 wheelchair-accessible taxis, which are often well-maintained and cost-competitive with hybrid saloons. However, without a mandate requiring new licences to be wheelchair accessible, the trade will continue to choose non-accessible vehicles. In my opinion, the council has fallen short of its Public Sector Equality Duty by failing to eliminate the indirect discrimination faced by wheelchair users."
Disability Action Yorkshire and NYDF are calling on the council to reconsider and implement a stronger mandate - such as requiring new taxi licences to be for wheelchair-accessible vehicles - until a sufficient number is reached to provide a reliable service across the county.
Established in 1937, Disability Action Yorkshire is a Harrogate-based charity providing a range of services including personal assistance, employability training and disability awareness consultancy. The organisation is a Disability Confident Leader and focuses on "solution finding" to empower disabled people across North Yorkshire.
Website: www.disabilityactionyorkshire.org.uk
The North Yorkshire Disability Forum is a strategic partnership that brings together disabled people, carers and voluntary organisations from across the county. The Forum works to ensure that the voices of disabled residents are heard by local authorities and that policy decisions reflect the reality of lived experience.
