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PARTY-POOPING council bosses have been slammed after they axed an annual taxi outing for children with special needs.

Monklands Taxi Drivers’ Outing has been running for almost 40 years – but North Lanarkshire Council halted the yearly fancy dress road trip.

They said it doesn’t fit in with current thinking on inclusion and equality and that parading children with additional support needs is inappropriate.

Instead, the children, from Airdrie and Coatbridge, were taken on a fun day out to nearby Drumpellier Park.

Airdrie councillor Michael Coyle said scrapping the day out was ridiculous.

The SNP councillor said: “I got a number of calls from parents who were upset the council cancelled their kids’ day out. I called the head of education, who was very negative about it. I was told it didn’t fit in with their ideas on inclusion and equality. It’s nonsense.

“Did anyone ask the parents what they thought? No. They think it’s a great thing and their kids love it.

“There’s no way it stigmatises them. They’re not paraded or ridiculed. To the contrary, they’re part of our community and everyone supports them.”

Jim Clark, of Monklands District Taxi Drivers, said: “We’re very disappointed the parade is gone. It was such a great event and everyone loved it.

“Why are the children still being driven about in yellow buses and not regular school buses if there are issues with equality? Also, taxi outings still take place from Edinburgh and Glasgow.”

Mum-OF-TWO Irene Woods said she was disgusted by the decision to axe the taxi outing.

Her daughter Chloe, six, who attends Drumpark School in Coatbridge, had pencilled the day out in her diary.

Irene, 24, said: “Chloe has gone on the taxi outing for the last couple of years and loves it. When she realised she wouldn’t get to go this year, she said, ‘I miss my taxis’. I’m disgusted with this decision and the reasons given.

“The children love it and have lots of fun and the parents I spoke to have no issue with it. I hope that it’s brought back.”

A council learning and leisure spokesman said: “Our focus is on bringing children of all abilities together rather than highlighting their differences.

“Similar parades have been phased out in other parts of the authority.

“By organising a fun day for children from mainstream and special schools, we are bringing the event

up to date and moving on with current thinking in terms of inclusion and equality.”