Portsmouth City Council is taking steps to improve accessibility for disabled residents by reviewing its taxi and private hire vehicle licensing policy.
This follows a motion from Councillor Charlotte Gerada and seconded by Councillor Yinka Adeniran, highlighting the limited availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis, particularly during peak times.
Currently, there is no requirement for private hire vehicles to be wheelchair-accessible, resulting in only 35 (3%) of Portsmouth's 1,160 private hire vehicles being able to accommodate wheelchairs.
This shortage disproportionately impacts disabled residents who rely on taxis for transportation.
The council's review aims to identify ways to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles available in the city.
This would create a more inclusive transportation system for all residents.
Additionally, the review recommends further investigation into best practices outlined by the Department for Transport and potential changes to licensing policies.
The recommendation will be discussed by the Licensing Committee next week.
The council is also working on a business case to explore funding options for wheelchair-accessible taxis in Portsmouth.
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