Disabled Taxi Scheme Launched in East Leeds (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Disabled Taxi Scheme Launched in East Leeds

December 1, 2005 12:00 AM

Cllr Brenda Lancaster welcomes the new scheme

Yesterday (30/11/05) saw the launch of an innovative scheme to help give greater independence to the disabled people of East Leeds. The Taxi Accessibly Scheme (Pilot Project)currently on trial in Garforth, Kippax and Swillington, has been set up to address the problem of getting a safe, efficient and reliable taxi service to disabled residents in some of Leeds' more isolated suburbs. In partnership with the Access Committee for Leeds, the Transport Access Group has re - launched the scheme using money from Leeds City Council's Councillor funding stream. The pilot is scheduled to run from November 2005 to March 2006.

Councillor Brenda Lancaster (Lib Dem, Moortown), Chair of the Transport Access Group said "There are too many examples where disabled people face barriers when trying to maintain their independence and transport is one of the major keys to overcoming such barriers. This pilot represents only one of the many transport issues that the Transport Access Group is working on and we will be following up the evaluation of this pilot closely to see what needs to be developed. I'd like to extend a debt of thanks to David and Tim at Access Committee for Leeds, who have worked hard to get this pilot up and running."

Annette Tarrant (Local Swillington resident) added, "If I ever need to get somewhere in an emergency I'm stuck. This opens up a whole new life for us."

Notes to the Editor:

· The attached photograph shows (left to right): Barry Dodgson (Leeds Taxi Driver - Telecars), Ivor Stringer (Swillington resident), Anglea Mkandla (Modernisation Development Officer, Leeds City Council), Councillor Andrea Harrison, Councillor Brenda Lancaster, David Littlewood (Access Committee for Leeds) and Annette Tarrant (Swillington resident).

· Contact details for more information; Dave Littlewood or Tim McSharry at Access Committee for Leeds on Tel 0113 228 8110, Minicom 0113 228 9652, Email accessleeds@yahoo.co.uk, postal ACL, Mariners Resource Centre, Hunslet Hall Road, Leeds LS11 6TT

· The Access Committee is a totally unpaid voluntary peer-led organisation of disabled people who have worked in Leeds for 10 years campaigning for the rights and equality of disabled people in Leeds.

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.