Wrexham charity fears closure

A disabled transport charity in Wrexham says it is the "victim of its own success" because it faces a VAT tax bill unless it closes the service down for part of the summer - a move that the charity claims will leave many users stranded.

Chariotts, which has been running for 15 years, transports disabled people around Wrexham at low cost in specially modified cars.

George Greenshields has been volunteering for the service for 13 years and says it is a vital lifeline.

To cover costs, the charity charges around £3 for an average journey of three miles, which is less than half the cost of a taxi.

They're so popular in the Wrexham area, they're close to hitting the tax threshold that means they'll have to start charging clients 20% VAT. They say this will hit some of their clients hard.

To avoid hitting the threshold, they've decided to shut the service down for two weeks in August, hoping this will bring them below an income of £77,000.

Seema Day uses the service two or three times a week to attend an MS support group, meet friends and go shopping. She says the nature of her disability means she finds taxis difficult to get in and out of, and feels uncomfortable asking drivers to dismantle her scooter.

When asked to comment, a Treasury spokesperson said it was impossible to introduce an exception for charities.