An osteo-arthritis sufferer and a young mum with her three children were among two bus-loads of Chelmsford people who pleaded with the Eastern Traffic Commissioner not to axe the county town's Taxibus.

Twenty-six supporters turned up at last Friday's Traffic Commissioner public inquiry in Cambridge.

Chelmsford Taxi-Drivers' Association have protested about Richard Matthews' Chelmsford-based group, Taxibus.

Two Chelmsford Taxibuses brought passengers to the inquiry.

Mr Matthews helped Mr Harry Barnett of Anderson Avenue, Chelmsford to the witness stand where he said his life, afflicted by arthritis, had been transformed by Taxibus.

"Eastern National buses are very difficult for me to get on, but Taxibuses are different. They have a low-step entry, and are an extremely efficient service," he said.

Mrs Lilian Cable, of Landers Court sheltered scheme for the elderly, said the bus called at all the similar schemes in the area and had brought mobility to many people who were previously forced to stay at home all the time.

Percy Bennett, secretary of the Chelmsford Pensioners' Action Group, said his members wanted the service to continue.They liked the 35p pensioner fare, far lower than Eastern National's.

The taxi drivers had argued that The Loop Taxibus service was not operated in accordance with its licence registration, by not going down Moulsham Street twice on a single loop.

It was also said that the Dukes nightclub Taxibus was not operating.

The services had been monitored by officers of the Department of the Environment and Essex Traffic Police.

Pc Harry Sexton checked the Loop in March and June and quoted figures showing some buses just a few minutes apart.

Mr Matthews told the inquiry there had never been a public demand or any intention to run buses up Moulsham Street twice per loop.

The Dukes service had been "totally unsuccessful" said Mr Matthews and he had given instructions for the registration to be cancelled, but this had not been done so far.

Taxibus was further alleged to have falsely claimed its drivers were vetted by Essex County Council.

Ms Fran Garthwaite, of the county's transport office told commissioner Mr Geoffrey Simms that her department had vetted 349 Taxibus drivers, with 11 cases outstanding

"Taxibus are extremely well thought of and complaints about them have been extremely low compared with other taxi operators," she said.

Mr Rowan Pelly, for Taxibus said: "Tens, if not hundreds, of letters of support have been received and hundreds have signed petitions."

Mr Simms will announce his decision by letter. He has the power to stop Taxibus running any service and to revoke their operator's licence.

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