A local Conservative MP has called for action to be taken to prevent discrimination against guide dog owners.
Research carried out by Guide Dogs revealed that 42% of people living with sight loss were turned away by a taxi or minicab in the last year because of their dog.
The study also discovered 38% of assistance dog owners have illegally been asked to pay an extra charge for the animal to travel.
Christopher Pincher, MP for areas including Shenstone, Hopwas and Fazeley, has written to both Lichfield District and Tamworth Borough Council urging them to ensure registered taxi drivers are not discriminating.
“It is shameful to hear that some people are illegally turned away from taxis and minicabs because they travel with an assistance dog,” he said. “The vast majority of cab drivers know the rules and are very helpful to their customers with disabilities – but just one or two are not so good and we must not allow them to damage the good reputation of the industry.
“That is why I am calling on my local authorities in Lichfield and in Tamworth to ensure all taxi and minicab drivers are made aware of how to assist their disabled customers in the right way.”
Mr Pincher’s comments come after an event at the Houses of Parliament.
James White, Senior Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, added: “This discrimination is not only illegal, it knocks people’s confidence and can stop them doing everyday things that most people take for granted.”
He went to a generic event held in the House of Commons to find out that this may be a problem in his constituency! and now he is calling for action, which is fine….. if it is actually a problem but this piece he as released seems to be lacking a “local fact” element to it.
How about calling for action, for the homeless people sleeping rough in sub zero conditions on our streets? or calling for action on fixing the causes of why Food Bank use is at an all time high in our communities.
Or is that a bit contentious, involves work and does not make for such a fuzzy nice press release Mr Pincher?