Written evidence submitted by Mrs Sandra Boyle (TPV0096)

In the whole of the Harrogate & District area, there is only one company that transports motorised wheelchairs. The company concerned only has 3 such vehicles. For an area the size of Harrogate District, 3 accessible vehicles is nowhere near enough. These vehicles are not available in the evenings, weekends or public holidays e.g. Christmas. This is life-restricting. Since Covid, I have hardly been out. I have just stopped trying now. I have had appointments where I have been totally forgotten, or forgotten to be picked up to come home, or usually just told there is no transport available. I did used to attend a wheelchair-user sport group, but there were never enough taxis. We had to wait for our colleagues to be picked up and dropped at the group before the taxi could turn around and pick up another member of the group. How is this remotely coming under the heading of equality?

In the last five years, my only outings have been hospital appointments where patient transport has needed to be booked. I am no longer able to live my life as I would like, e.g. meeting friends for lunch, going out for the day, going shopping, going to be theatre etc. This sort of inhibited lifestyle does nothing to help with a sense of well-being.

There needs to be some thought given to this problem, although than just logistics. As the population of Harrogate becomes older, the need is becoming greater. There is little point in thinking that the demand is not there. The demand is there, but everyone is just getting used to never going out. We really do deserve better.

September 2025