Ayrshire taxi driver granted licence exception after 'life changing events'

Daily Record

16-05-2025

Angela Murray said she had been put in a very difficult position.
A taxi driver has been given a licence to allow the use of a non-compliant car in place of a wheelchair accessible one which is far too expensive to repair.
And Angela Murray told the North Ayrshire Licensing Committee a series of 'life-changing events' had put her in a very difficult financial position.
‌
She asked if she could substitute a non-compliant Skoda Octavia car in place of a Peugeot wheelchair accessible vehicle.
‌
The applicant said: 'I currently have a wheelchair access vehicle on a Peugeot Horizon - the vehicle has still got car finance but the engine mounting collapsed and it will be approximately £3,500 to get the car fixed and put it back on the road.
'I currently have seven months of car finance on the vehicle and would be unable to trade it in as it is a non-runner. I would experience difficulty getting car finance.
'I have a Skoda Octavia that meets the criteria for non-wheelchair vehicles. I would like to substitute the wheelchair access vehicle for the non-wheelchair access vehicle. I came to be in this position of being financially constrained due to life-changing events.
'After Covid hit, my husband took a series of fainting effects and was not able to drive the vehicle as it is a hire in case he fainted or passed out and needed six months of no episodes which he did but DVLA backed up with people trying to get licences back. He had to wait six more weeks till DVLA said he was fit to drive then went back to licensing which was another four weeks.
'After he got his licence back in August, my youngest daughter took a rare autoimmune illness, she was four months in hospital and we had to support and look after our grandchildren. I was then off work with stress and anxiety for six months.
'We got back on our feet, got the car back on the road, and in the run up to Christmas we had had to pay the licence fee which was £540 and get the taxi through its test. At that point it needed a completely new exhaust system and tyres. Then in January the engine mount collapsed in the car.
‌
'My husband has had no earnings from that point and this has caused severe financial problems and we are behind on his priority bills.
'We find there is not a great need for wheelchairs as a lot of our customers are older and struggle to get out of the bigger vehicles anyway.
'My husband is fit to drive now. If I scrap the vehicle, I will not get the scrappage value. The finance company say I could hand the car back but that would impact my credit reference."
Cllr Ronnie Stalker moved to grant the seconded by cllr Jean McClung and this was agreed by the committee.
Chair Eleanor Collier said: 'We understand you have been through a difficult time and we will grant this exception tour policy and a substitution of the licence and hope you can sort out your financial situation and get back on your feet.'