Kenilworth taxi firm apologises after leaving wheelchair user stranded

A Kenilworth taxi firm has apologised after leaving a wheelchair user stranded last weekend.
Rob Elliott with partner Debbie MillicanRob Elliott with partner Debbie Millican
Rob Elliott with partner Debbie Millican

Call Line Taxis had dropped Debbie Millican, 58, of Windy Arbour, off at Marco’s New York Italian in Smalley Place for her partner Rob Elliott’s 60th birthday on Sunday March 5 in its wheelchair-accessible cab.

But when the party came to a close in the evening, Debbie said she phoned up the office only to be told the wheelchair cab was not being used for the rest of the day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “I just didn’t know what to say - I thought ‘the taxi brought me here so how am I supposed to get home?’

“The evening was completely spoiled. My daughter was absolutely incensed.”

Rob ended up having to wheel her all the way back to Windy Arbour through the rain. Debbie added: “We arrived home feeling cold and soaked through.”

Debbie has to rely on taxis to get out and about quickly in Kenilworth, but she said booking one can be difficult due to the lack of availability of wheelchair-accessible cabs and the cost of ordering one from further away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She has considered getting an electric wheelchair to become more independent, but she said she cannot afford the expense.

Following enquiries to Call Line by the KWN, the firm contacted Debbie to apologise for the inconvenience to her and her family and offered her a free taxi ride.

She has yet to decide whether to take the firm up on their offer, but she has not ruled it out.

Related topics: