Only two per cent of Blackburn with Darwen's private hire taxis are suitable for wheelchair users

Department for Transport figures show 932 vehicles were licensed to operate as taxis in Blackburn with Darwen at the end of March – but just 90 of those (10 per cent) could be used by people in wheelchairs.

Of the 70 traditional taxis or black cabs, which can be hailed from the street, all were wheelchair accessible.

But just 20 of the area’s 862 private hire vehicles, which need to be pre-booked, offered the same service.

Disability charity Scope said four-fifths of disabled people feel anxious on public transport – with the coronavirus pandemic only exacerbating this – leaving many reliant on taxis and private hire vehicles.

Tom Marsland, of Scope, said: “When these aren’t accessible disabled people are robbed of their independence.

“Consistent regulation and enforcement across all transport authorities in England and Wales would help hold drivers and taxi organisations accountable for their accessibility, and improve disabled people’s trust in the system.”

While Blackburn with Darwen Council has control over the number of traditional black cabs on the street that are accessible for wheelchair users, private hire companies are not compelled by law to provide wheelchair accessible vehicles.

However, taxi drivers will face a fine of up to £1,000 if they refuse to transport wheelchair users or attempt to charge them extra, in a change to the law which came into force in April 2017.

A council spokesperson said: “All of our hackney carriages in the borough are wheelchair accessible and this is a requirement by the council.

“There are 20 private hire vehicles in the borough which can accommodate wheelchairs.

“The need for transport open to people with disabilities is something we take very seriously, which is shown in our policy for the hackney carriages.”

In Burnley, 47 of the 357 vehicles licensed to operate in the town at the end of March could be used by those in wheelchairs.

Of the 33 traditional taxis which can be hailed from the street, all were wheelchair accessible.

Just 14 of the area’s 324 private hire vehicles, which need to be pre-booked, offered the same service.

In the rest of Lancashire, 3,836 vehicles were licensed to operate but just 507 could be used by those in wheelchairs.

Of the 1,158 traditional taxis which can be hailed from the street, 375 were wheelchair accessible, while just 132 of the area’s 2,678 private hire vehicles offered wheelchair accessibility.

Across England, just two per cent of private hire vehicles, such as those available through Uber, can fit a wheelchair in them.

The DfT figures also show that the majority of local authorities across England and Wales do not require disability awareness training for taxi or private hire drivers, although in Blackburn with Darwen, both taxi and private hire drivers have to do this training.

The National Private Hire and Taxi Association said wheelchair accessible vehicles are expensive to buy and run, and their higher emissions are worse for the environment.

NPHTA board member, Steven Toy, said: “With the increase in journeys being taken by peer-to-peer apps, there are fewer journeys by hackney carriage.

“That itself dissuades people from investing in a vehicle when they see their trade falling on the whole.”

He said for every wheelchair accessible vehicle request, there are likely to be 10 or more for a low vehicle – favoured by older people who struggle to get into higher vehicles – so all disabilities should be taken into consideration.

A DfT spokeswoman said: “Our National Disability Strategy will drive forward new laws to ensure disabled people get the right help in taxis and private hire vehicles.

“All councils should be using existing powers to provide enough wheelchair accessible vehicles and ensuring all drivers are trained to support every disabled passenger.”