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Invalid Carriage Protest

Disabled motorists take on the Government and corner a Minister in the process.

News 1977 2 mins Not rated

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From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

David Ennals MP, the then Secretary of State for Social Services, faced angry protestors on all sides during a visit to Solihull in September 1977. Placards defending the local hospital are overshadowed by a three wheeled protest by motorists with disabilities who are angered by plans to discontinue the government's 'invalid carriage' scheme. With thousands of motorists turning militant and the government not backing down this was going to be a long drawn out dispute.

The familiar blue invalid carriage trikes were facing the scrap heap following safety fears. Many motorists with disabilities were not happy that the government had not found a suitable replacement and were instead offering a small mobility allowance or cash loans to modify existing production cars.

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