Just 3% of cabs in Sefton take wheelchairs

JUST 3% of taxis in Sefton are wheelchairaccessible.

The figures, from a Freedom of Information request, show just 142 of 4,883 of the borough’s hackneys and private-hires can accommodate people in wheelchairs.

Sefton has a population of approximately 274,000, with around 23% of people aged 65 or over.

One man, who lives in Lydiate and uses a wheelchair, said: “The amount of times I have been left high and dry trying to get home.

“You call five different firms and get nowhere.”

Last year, Sefton Council published a list of hackney and private hire taxis that are wheelchair friendly. The list stipulates that these taxis must not refuse to take anyone in a wheelchair under the Equality Act 2010.

Under the act, the council have said these taxi drivers will be obliged to carry the passenger while in the wheelchair and not make any additional charge for doing so.

They also state that necessary steps must be taken “to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort” which includes assisting wheelchair users if they wish to sit in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

A spokesman for Sefton Council explained: “Last year we agreed to the approval of a list of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles as introduced by the Equality Act 2010.

“While there is no legal requirement for taxis in Sefton to be wheelchair accessible, we provide guidance notes to taxi companies on wheelchair accessibility and will update our website with the designated list.”