Cabbies give disabled access as demand increases
INCREASING demand for wheelchair-friendly assistance on the road has seen three cabbies set up their own taxi service.
Phil Watts, Nige Mawer and John Shone have formed Access Cabs, with a focus on helping those with mobility difficulties at the core of the business.
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WHEEL DEAL: Joint business partners of Access Cabs, from left, Nige Mawer, Phil Watts and John Shone, pictured with their wheelchair access cars, at the Oaklands Hotel, Laceby. Picture: Rick Byrne
The owner-drivers were aware of issues some people can have with booking the right type of vehicles, and having talked it over in the ranks, decided to set up for themselves.
Mr Watts said: "We all worked for other companies. What ignited the idea, was that we all have seen the wheelchair side of the business and how that has grown. We have all got wheelchair-friendly vehicles and are now concentrating on being a specialist in that sector."
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With regular appointments at clinics and other medical requirements at the forefront of their minds, advance bookings are a cornerstone of the new business, with a website and number 01472 789000 now set-up.
"It is taking off well," said Mr Watts, who was a car salesman before getting behind the wheel full time.
"We have had a lot of calls from people who cannot book wheelchair-friendly vehicles. We can cater for all these people, we are happy to take block bookings, as long in advance as possible."
The three-way enterprise has also secured the position as the preferred taxi service to Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby.
"We have also just taken on a contract with an Immingham company doing crew changes for a vessel," added Mr Watts, who has been a taxi driver for three-and-a-half years, with both Mr Mawer and Mr Shone have 15 years' with other companies under their belts.
ON THE WEB: Are you a disabled person? If so, we would like hear your experiences with taxis. Visit www.this isgrimsby.co.uk/business
Comments
by deanosparx
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:51PM
“With being a wheelchair user myself I am pleased that these cabbies are doing what they are, as in the past I have found great difficulty in getting a taxi, whether its for shopping, appointments or just socialising. I have tried pre-booking them and they either say they can not do it or just have not turned up. I have had several conflicts with the local council regarding this and they have not been very helpful.
Its about time that people with disabilities are treated as normal able bodied people as we are no different from them
The dark ages have gone by when people with disabilities where locked away and not seen.
Dean Wingate”