Norton Canes Primary Academy met
Carol and her dog Florad

'

Year 2 at Norton Canes Primary Academy met Carol and her dog Flora for the first time in January this year. They were embarking on a project about seeing in the dark (nocturnal animals) and invited Carol and Flora in because the children were curious about what is was like to be blind and how blind people coped.

They were so inspired they decided to try and raise funds to help Carol look after Flora. 

Their aim was £260 - £10 per class member. As a class they decided to do a sponsored walk of 10 laps of the school field. One Child took it upon himself to raise a whopping £340 on his own by cycling around Chasewater. Another child sold his Christmas toys to raise £75. The grand total came to £800 and was presented to Carol and Flora today to give to the Guide Dog Association. The children were ecstatic to see Carol and Flora again. '

Carol O'Brien

Teacher 26 May 2016

Carol and Guide Dog Flora meet Michael Fabricant MP

Michael Fabricant MP meeting Carol and Flora
25 May 2016

TAXIS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEED TO BE AWARE OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE BLIND AND THEIR GUIDE DOGS

Michael Fabricant and other MPs met partially sighted and sightless constituents in Parliament today (Wednesday 25^th May) along with their Guide Dogs.

Michael met Carol Trigg of Burntwood who, with her guide dog Flora, had been refused entry to a taxi in Cannock. Carol says “I am aware from conversations with other guide dog owners I regularly meet that I am not alone in having been refused a taxi in Staffordshire.”

Michael says “It is the law that taxi drivers must accept guide dogs and their handlers.  It is against the law to refuse and there are fines and the risk of the loss of their taxi licences if drivers do not comply.

“I have taken this up with the Government minister, Justin Tomlinson, who has responsibility for this and asked if the Government can give this law more publicity and increase the penalties on any driver who discriminates against anyone with a guide dog by refusing to carry them to their destination.  And this applies to train operators and buses too.”

Poor Service from Cannock Taxis for Guide Dog owner Carol

Carol and Flora will not take a Taxi
off Cannock Taxi rank again

AND FINALLY

As a consequence, I have not taken a taxi from Cannock taxi rank since as I now feel vulnerable, in case I were to encounter that same driver and I can have no confidence that the Local Authority would act to protect me as the message they appear to have given to taxi drivers is that they can refuse guide dog owners with impunity. Had it been late at night with no other alternative taxi there then I would have been placed in great difficulty.

I do not know whether other guide dog owners have been refused a taxi in this area. I do know that nationally most people who are refused apparently do not report because of having no confidence that action will be taken. There have however been a few successful convictions in cases similar to mine, even where there was no independent witness.

I would be interested in hearing the experience of other guide dog owners and their families.

Hope you are keeping up with this Cannock Taxi saga?

Flora needs your help to search for the truth

Having returned home, I contacted Guide Dogs for advice and subsequently the local council, Cannock Chase, who licence the taxis on the rank. I then had a number of contacts and meetings with the licensing officers and received indications that they were not happy with the first driver’s effective refusal to carry me with their guide dog. I made statements at their request and I understand that the second driver also made a statement supporting me. I was informed that the first driver, who was denying any knowledge of the incident, was being taken to court by the Council and I was notified of an initial court date. However, the Council then seemed to change their mind and decided not to pursue this. I am told that this decision was taken on legal advice because a successful conviction was not guaranteed and because the Council had not taken a case like this to Court before. 

TO BE CONTINUED!

Flora needs your HELP please

Flora needs your HELP !

I did not question this but went to the next taxi in the queue. As I got into this taxi with my guide dog, this driver informed me that, when he saw me approach the taxi in front of him, he had not been surprised that the first driver had refused my fare as he said that he knew that the driver did not like dogs. The first driver then came alongside the car on the driver’s side and repeated that he had a fare booked. After the first driver walked away, my driver commented  that, if that were the case, he should not have been on the rank.  As the taxi I was in pulled away, the first taxi was still on the rank.

I asked my driver for the plate number of the first taxi and he made a note of this for me , also giving me his own number.

TO BE CONTINUED

Carol & Flora denied a Taxi CannockTaxi (Staffordshire England)

I am severely visually impaired and require the assistance of my guide dog Floraor other mobility aid in order to make journeys independently. Through this blog, I would be grateful if I could share my experience twelve months ago and its consequence, particularly to warn other guide dog users.

On 19^th December 2014 , I had been in Cannock (Staffordshire England) and needed to get  home to Burntwood after work. I approached the Cannock taxi rank from High Green with my guide dog and spoke to the driver of the first available  taxi. I asked if I could have a taxi and the driver informed me that he was waiting for a pre booked fare and was therefore unable to take me. I was surprised that he said this as he was on the rank.

Flora Dressed for Work

TO BE CONTINUED!!