Newport woman's fury at taxi 'disability discrimination'

Just months after she had similar issues with a private taxi company, Sophie Shuttleworth, 32, has continued to have some issues with the council-licensed Hackney carriages.

On Friday, August 9, she was enjoying a night out in Newport with a friend at The Potters pub before leaving at around 11pm through the back door and headed down opposite towards Windsor Castle pub.

After previously speaking to the city council, she understood there would be some wheelchair accessible vehicles available at the hackney carriage rank, and was pleased to find three vehicles waiting there.

However, upon approaching the first vehicle, they were met with some issues.

Sophie Shuttleworth says she has faced many problems with taxi drivers since becoming a full-time wheelchair user (Image: Sophie Shuttleworth) “My friend Kayleigh and I approached all three taxis and were told they don’t take card and were cash only, and we were told to go to the Capitol taxi office opposite the bus station," said Sophie.

“We explained to the lady there that we had been sent to her and she told us that the taxis are legally obliged to take wheelchair users, so she offered to help us by drawing out the cash if we bank transferred the money.”

Ms Shuttleworth’s friend returned back to the taxi rank to request a price for the meter, as they would need to go to Duffryn and Maindee, but the drivers allegedly argued with the friend, despite them both explaining that they now had cash and would be able to pay with this method.

She said: “My friend told me that while she was having this discussion with the driver, he let an able-bodied couple get into his taxi, despite my friend being at the front of the queue.

“He argued that they had been first, but they clearly weren’t as my friend had been talking with him before they arrived.

“She eventually went over to one of the other taxis, who drove off after saying he had to go because someone in his family was unwell.”

By the time Ms Shuttleworth’s friend returned to the Capitol office, she told Ms Shuttleworth that each of the taxi drivers were refusing to listen and refused to take either of them for multiple reasons, and there were now no accessible vehicles available on the rank.

Ms Shuttleworth said: “The woman at Capitol assured us she would approach the next WAV that pulls in, and we headed down back to where they line up opposite the Windsor Castle pub.

“We approached a driver, and she explained the situation and that they must take me, pointing out that his taxi number would be reported if he refused.

“After we drew the money out, we were eventually able to use the taxi, and the driver was very helpful.”

Sophie Shuttleworth is determined to fight against any disability discrimination she finds to make the world a more accessible place (Image: Sophie Shuttleworth)

Ms Shuttleworth believes that after the issues with the taxis, she got home about midnight, and feels that this issue is another prime example of taxis “discriminating against the disabled”.

She said: “I shouldn’t have had to argue my case with these drivers, and we then got punished because those three drivers disappeared and there were no other wheelchair accessible vehicles available for ages.

"This is disability discrimination - I'm never able to go out alone because I can't guarantee I'll be able to get home, and it's just not fair.

"I'm determined to fight against this kind of discrimination and help make the world a more accessible place. Without people like Sarah from Capitol, who I owe a massive thanks to, we disabled people would be lost."

Newport City Council said all hackney carriages, which can be hailed from a rank or on the street have been required to be wheelchair accessible since 2007.

They also explained private hire vehicles have to be booked in advance, but Ms Shuttleworth says this policy is “disgraceful” and has no way of guaranteeing that she would be able to get home in case a wheelchair accessible vehicle is not available.

A council spokesperson said: “We take all complaints about potential discrimination seriously and appropriate action is taken if the complaint is upheld.

“In common with other councils, we cannot require private hire vehicles to be wheelchair accessible.

“The Welsh Government has proposed making changes to the legislation in respect of accessibility in private hire vehicles and the council has fully supported this change.”