A COUPLE are concerned at growing numbers of taxi drivers who refuse to let them travel with a guide dog.

David Quarmby, a retired probation officer, takes his loyal guide dog Mick everywhere with him.

But he and wife Jean encounter problems every time they call for a taxi.

Jean, of Newsome, said: “If we want to go to a party or night event it’s difficult to get anywhere because the taxi driver sees the guide dog and won’t take him.

“We’ve had guide dogs for 24 years now and it’s not getting any better.

“It’s illegal, but it’s happening with many taxi firms, not just one.”

The couple recently called one taxi firm but the driver refused to take Mick, a cross Labrador and retriever, and said another would be along in an hour. A second taxi never arrived.

“I don’t know if taxi drivers realise if they can’t take us due to an allergy they have to provide us with an allergy certificate,” Jean added. “If this can’t happen then they are obliged to take us.”

The couple say that many public services have got better in the 24 years they’ve had guide dogs.

“Restaurants and cafes are now much better in allowing us in,” Jean, a retired nursery nurse, added. “We still have to tell people that Mick’s a guide dog, but once we do they’re fine with him. But taxis are the biggest problem and it does cause us problems.

“I can’t even say it’s just one firm because we’ve tried many of them and they all say no.”

Mr Quarmby has used his experience to tackle disability hate crime in the past, joining forces with the mother of Stephen Lawrence in a bid to raise awareness of the different types of hatred.

He served as chairman of Kirklees Disability Rights Network and the Kirklees Visual Impairment Network.

A spokesman for Kirklees Council Licensing said just one Kirklees taxi driver has an exemption certificate which allows them to refuse to carry a dog for allergy reasons.

Prior to getting their badge, every taxi driver has to attend a training course which covers equalities issues relating to dogs.

The introduction of the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 means drivers of all licensed taxis, Hackney or private hire, are legally bound to carry any guide, hearing or assistance dog travelling with a disabled person. They are not allowed to charge more for carrying the dog.

Passengers who have similar experiences should report issues, along with evidence such as the taxi firm, taxi driver number or details of the car, to Kirklees Licensing.

The council spokesman added: “A driver who refuses to carry an assistance dog, or makes a charge for carrying it, is guilty of an offence and could be fined up to £1,000 unless he or she has an exemption.

“A driver of taxi or private hire vehicles who can prove to us as the licensing authority that they have a medical condition, such as severe asthma, which is aggravated by contact with dogs may apply for an exemption.

“A driver who has been granted an exemption will display a ‘Notice of Exemption’ on the windscreen or dashboard of their vehicle.”

Due to the difficulty of seeing the exemption, it’s advised that the driver tells the passenger.

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