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Posted on the 17th June 2025 in PHTM News
NORTH AYRSHIRE GRANTS NON-WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI LICENCE DESPITE POLICY
A taxi driver in North Ayrshire has successfully secured a licence for a non-wheelchair accessible vehicle, a decision that goes against the established policy of the North Ayrshire Licensing Board.
Mary Hewitt was granted the new taxi licence during a Licensing Board meeting on Wednesday, June 11, after arguing her case for an exception to the rule.
Licensing chair Eleanor Collier pressed the applicant, stating: "You have to convince us that you are entitled to an exception as this is against our policy."
Hewitt, who has been driving a taxi for 28 years, explained her clientele's specific needs, stating: “The car I was driving before was a normal saloon car, my husband’s name was on the licence but I had been driving it for 28 years and anybody I pick up is really elderly. It’s like care in the community as well as being a taxi driver.”
She further elaborated on the mobility challenges faced by her regular passengers: “The people I get are not able-bodied, their mobility is not great and they are not able to get into a car that is higher than a saloon car.”
Councillor Collier acknowledged the broader push towards accessible transport, remarking: “The direction of travel in terms of taxis is for wheelchair accessible vehicles. It is law and we should be doing everything we can to encourage them. We have heard before about the access issues.”
However, Hewitt countered this by asserting the infrequency of wheelchair requests in her experience: “I had a wheelchair accessible car before and only had a request twice for a wheelchair. The requests are very minimal.”
Following the discussion, Councillor Matthew McLean proposed granting the licence, a motion seconded by Councillor Donald L Reid, and subsequently passed unanimously by the committee.
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