Taxi Vouchers Under Threat

05/03/2010

A scheme that gives travel vouchers to people to pay for taxis when bus services are not available is under threat in Teesdale.  Durham County Council has proposed that the current taxi scheme be scrapped and replaced with a mini-bus service, named Link2.

However Teesdale’s Action Partnership (TAP), created to give local people a say on services, has made official objections about the council’s latest proposals.  Under the plans, Link2 would pick up people from their doors, if they live more than 600 metres from a bus stop, and deliver them to their destination, providing it too is more than 600 metres from a bus stop. 

The maximum distance passengers would be transported under the plans is four miles – a distance residents say is not enough.  Further concerns have been raised regarding the operation times as, unlike taxis, Link2 would only operate on weekdays between 8am and 6pm.

In its response to the council’s proposals, a spokesman for TAP said: “We feel this has been designed for an urban rather than a rural area and the proposal as set out is not fit for purpose in Teesdale.”  TAP has called for the current taxi voucher scheme to be retained.