7:00pm Thursday 27th April 2006
By Caroline Innes
BUS bosses have launched an investigation into claims that a man disabled by MRSA was left stranded in the rain by a driver.
Wheelchair-bound Norman Turner, who lost his left leg to MRSA last year, said that a Blackburn Transport driver shut the doors on him and drove off as he tried to board.
His sister Lana Scott had already got on to the bus and claimed the driver said he couldn't help a disabled passenger because he had a bad back.
She said she had to insist he stopped so she could walk back to be with Norman.
Mr Turner said that at the time he was trying to come to terms with his loss of mobility and the driver's "insensitive" actions were like a "slap in the face."
Blackburn Transport managing director Michael Morton said he was aware of an official complaint by Mr Turner.
He said: "We are currently investigating this incident and until that process is complete we are unable to comment on this matter further.
"What I will say is that we are dealing with this matter and will be in contact with Mr Turner as soon as the procedure is compete to let him know the outcome."
Today disability rights campaigners said that with over 10million disabled people in the UK, bus companies must ensure access for disabled people.
The incident happened on Wednesday April 12 at the bus stop in Penny Street, Blackburn.
Mr Turner, 42, of Ferrier Court, Darwen, had been shopping with his sister and was waiting for the bus with four or five other people.
Mrs Scott, 46, of Aspen Fold, Oswaldtwistle, said: "Norman being Norman said when the bus came for all of us to get on and out of the rain as it would take a while for the driver to get the ramp out and get him on.
"We all boarded and paid and then the driver took one look at Norman, shut the doors and drove off with me aboard and Norman looking horrified.
"I shouted for the driver to stop and said that Norman had wanted to get on but he just ignored me and kept going.
"I went up to him and told him that he was my brother and he must let him on the bus but he said he had a bad back and didn't want to let Norman on."
Sue Pratt, a spokeswoman for the Disability Rights Commission said she was outraged that this had happened.
She said: "I am afraid that this is not the first time I have heard of bus drivers refusing to take disabled people.
"As the law stands at the moment there is no redress but we have been campaigning to get public transport covered in the Disability Discrimination Act.
"And from December, if this happens, the disabled person will be able to sue the bus company for discrimination under the act's new powers."
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