Nottingham : Bus Company ‘Failing Passengers With Learning Disabilities’

A bus company has been accused of failing to take action to help passengers with learning disabilities.

City councillor Tony Sutton claims Nottingham City Transport did not act on reports last year that drivers were discriminating against disabled people.

NCT has robustly denied the claim, highlighting training currently in place and new courses soon to be introduced.

Liberal Democrat Coun Sutton was chairman of the Serving the Adult Community Standing Panel when it investigated treatment of passengers in buses and taxis in autumn 2006.

Coun Sutton said he was dismayed when the same panel was presented with new evidence this month of a person with a learning disability being unfairly removed from a bus.

Roger Grange, 54, from Sherwood, told the panel he had been thrown off a bus on two occasions since February. He claimed one driver had said: “You smell, get off.”

Coun Sutton said: “I am really disappointed, the whole issue has been discussed before.”

But NCT insist a lot has been done. After the incident involving Mr Grange, the driver was given extra training to make him aware of issues linked to learning disabilities.

Coun Brian Parbutt, chairman of the board of Nottingham City Transport, wrote to Coun Sutton last year to assure him new training would be put in place. Today, he insisted this had been done.

Coun Parbutt and NCT said they felt unfairly singled out, saying other bus and taxi firms may also have to address staff training. Marie O’Sullivan, of Speaking Up, which supports people with learning disabilities, backed him on this.