A DISABLED woman says she was left behind by a bus driver – because he was running late and ‘didn’t have time’ to let her on.

Kathleen Tucker, who is in a wheelchair, claims the episode is the latest in a long line of run-ins they have had with drivers.

Kathleen and her daughter Ann Williamson say they rely on the McGill’s bus from Oronsay Avenue to Greenock to go shopping or to the doctors.

But the mother and daughter claim that drivers refuse to lower the disabled ramp for them and Ann has to struggle on board with her mum.

Her daughter Ann, also her carer, said: “I am disgusted by all this. They just left us there. We were waiting for the bus at the stop in Arran Avenue outside the shop.

“The driver pulled up and said he didn’t have time to let us on because he was running late. 

“I am just so fed up with it. It is the final straw and I have had enough. We should not be treated like this.

“They have disabled ramps but they never put them down for us. 

“We get every excuse under the sun, they don’t have time, or they are not working. They even tried to tell me that it is a raised kerb and I don’t need a ramp.”

Kathleen, of Iona Road, added: “It is getting so bad I don’t even want to leave the house any more. It is terrible.”

The former dinner lady slipped at her front door and initially had to walk with the aid of two sticks.

Eventually she ended up in a wheelchair because she just couldn’t get around.

But Ann says it is becoming increasingly difficult to get around the town.

Her daughter said: “Taxis are so expensive. We use the bus maybe once or twice a week. But there was only one driver who ever took the time to put the ramp down and he is not on the run anymore.

“I have to try to lift my mum up on to the bus. But now I have had enough.”

McGill’s managing director Ralph Roberts says the firm takes the rights of disabled customers ‘very seriously’ and endeavours to make bus travel accessible to all. 

He added: “Our vehicles were 100 per cent Disability Discrimination Act compliant well ahead of the rest of Scottish bus industry.

“This investment came at a significant cost to the business but it was important to us.

“We worked closely with Inverclyde Council and they have invested in raised kerb infrastructure at many bus stops which means that bus ramps don’t need to be deployed.

“We also worked with Inverclyde Council on Disability to correctly produce training materials and handbooks for our staff to help them correctly assist our customers using wheelchairs.

“We are proud of our record and have received many commendations from disabled passengers for how they have been treated by McGill’s staff.

“There is no record of any complaints from Mrs Tucker or Mrs Williamson on our customer services database.

“If a complaint is made, we always follow it up and take action on it.

“However, we will reiterate to our staff, the importance of the correct procedures when dealing with a customer using a wheelchair.”