North Yorkshire council bosses have agreed a rule change to make taxis more accessible to wheelchair users — despite warnings the change could hit the elderly, disabled and rural residents.
The new policy will mean all new hackney carriage vehicle licence applications need to be for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
North Yorkshire Council hopes the policy will address the shortage of WAVs currently operating in the county, with just 60 wheelchair accessible hackney carriage vehicles currently licensed.
Councillor Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment, admitted the policy was a compromise but said he hoped it would increase the number of WAV taxis in the county.
He added: “We have an issue around disability and access to vehicles, but we also realise there are challenges to the trade, especially the hackney carriage trade from app-based taxi hire firms, both in our county and from across borders.
“So we’re hoping that we’ve come up with a policy that reflects the modern world.”
Ahead of the vote, taxi operators warned that the change would force some drivers out of the industry.
Lisa Ridsdale, from the taxi operator Take Me Group, told councillors the policy was “out of touch with rural reality”.
“Requiring all new or replacement taxis to be wheelchair accessible, electric or hybrid might work in cities, but here it’s impractical and potentially devastating.
“Wheelchair accessible or electric vehicles cost in the region of £70,000 to £90,000 when financed, compared to standard cars at around £20,000 to £30,000. Most rural taxi drivers are self-employed, running small businesses with tight margins. For many, this is a financial crucifixion.
“It will mean fewer drivers, fewer taxis, longer waits and reduced service, and the people who rely most on taxis — the elderly, disabled and rural residents — your families will suffer.”
Disability campaigners, however, said the policy did not go far enough to increase the number of WAV taxis.
Asking councillors to change the policy to insist that all new taxis were WAVs, Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, said: “Without enough accessible vehicles, people face longer waits, fewer spontaneous journeys and reduced opportunities to participate fully in everyday life.
“The public sector equality duty requires the council not only to avoid discrimination but to actively advance equality of opportunity.
“With the current shortage of accessible vehicles, we ask councillors to consider whether the recommended option does enough to meet that duty.”
The new policy will mean private hire operators need to identify a passenger’s accessibility needs prior to taking a booking, to ensure that an appropriate vehicle is provided.
The 10-year age limit on both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles has been replaced with a requirement to meet Euro 6 emission standards.
The council will also issue restricted private hire driver licences for those who drive licensed vehicles for the sole purpose of fulfilling school or social care contracts.
The new policy will be reviewed after a year to ensure it has increased the number of WAV vehicles.
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