Bus driver refused to let disabled woman on
A DISABLED woman was refused travel on a bus in Burton town centre because there was no room for her wheelchair on board.
Sharon Gee, 44, who suffers from a severe neurological disease and has difficulty walking, was left on the kerbside for half an hour while she waited for the next Arriva bus.
The travel company claims there were two children’s pushchairs already stored in the wheelchair zone and Mrs Gee could not come on board for safety reasons.
“It is a horrible way to treat people,” Mrs Gee told the Mail. “Arriva has got a lot to answer for.
“I’ve made a formal complaint about this because I think it is disgraceful.
“The bus driver told me he would not lower the ramp so I could get on board with my wheelchair.”
Mrs Gee was trying to catch a bus shortly after 1pm from New Street, Burton, to Harper Avenue, Horninglow, near to her home in St Michaels Road.
Mrs Gee claims the driver did not give an explanation why she would not be allowed onto the vehicle.
“He was very rude,” she said. “He didn’t tell me why.
“It is difficult enough for me to get into and around town without added problems like this.”
Mrs Gee suffers from leukodystrophy, a disease which can affect body tone, movements, gait and speech as well as the sufferers’ ability to eat, vision, hearing and behaviour.
Keith Myatt, spokesman for Arriva Midland, said: “We have downloaded CCTV footage from that journey.
“It can be clearly seen that there were two pushchairs in the wheelchair zone.
One buggy was folded to make room but the other was unable to do the same.
“Therefore there was not room for the wheelchair too.
“The driver did not refuse to let her on the bus. There simply was not space.”
