'Slow progress' for rail access

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Plans to make London railway stations more accessible to disabled people are behind schedule.

Thirteen stations should be wheelchair accessible by the end of 2009 but only five have so far been completed, Putney MP Justine Greening found.

Charity Scope said: "Accessible public transport is crucial to enable disabled people to go about daily business."

The Department for Transport said accessibility would be improved in a total of 40 London stations by 2015.

'Shambles'

Since 2006 the Department for Transport (DfT) has given Network Rail £370m to carry out accessibility upgrades to stations as part of its Access For All scheme.

But in Parliamentary questions the DfT said planned upgrades had only been carried out on five of the 13 London stations, with a further three "nearing completion".

Miss Greening, Conservative MP for Putney and shadow minister for communities and local government, said the strategy was a "shambles".

"The government's botched handling of this scheme is a disgrace," she said.

"It is crucial to make public transport accessible to all, but yet again this government has been big on rhetoric to Londoners, but has failed to deliver."


“ Wheelchair users aren't going to go away ”
Rosemary Bolinger,
disability campaigner
Access has been improved at Balham, Herne Hill, Kingston, Purley and Orpington stations.

Disability campaigner Rosemary Bolinger said: "We've got the Olympics coming to London in 2012 and the Paralympics will also be coming.

"There are going to be more and more people around in wheelchairs, so it needs to be done."

Charity Scope added that better access for the disabled also eases access for the elderly and parents with baby buggies.

A DfT spokesman said plans to improve station access were being "taken forward".

"We are committed to delivering excellent services for all passengers at every stage of their rail journey," a DfT spokesman said.

"In total, 40 stations in London boroughs will have benefited by 2015 - five of these are completed, three are nearing completion and the remainder are in the design and development process."

Network Rail did not comment.

Tube maps made for the disabled

Two new London Underground maps have been produced to help disabled, pregnant and elderly passengers.
The Step-Free Tube Guide includes information about the stations where you can change between lines without encountering steps or escalators.
The Tube Toilet map shows which stations have accessible loos for wheelchair users, and whether they have baby changing facilities.
The old step-free map was redesigned after it was described as confusing.
The old maps used to just have symbols denoting which stations had wheelchair access.
The new one also gives the information on the gap between the train and platform.
There are also different symbols to show stations which are step-free when changing between lines, but where it is not possible to get in or out of the station without using stairs or an escalator.
Actress and wheelchair user Athena Stevens, formerly on the Independent Disability Advisory Group, said: "The old guide caused a lot of confusion.
"What we all wanted to achieve was a simple, honest, straightforward guide to how the system is now.
"In doing this, we have put the decision and independence about journeys exactly where it should be - in the hands of the individual."
Wayne Trevor, London Underground's Accessibility & Inclusion Manager, said: "This information is vital for many mobility impaired people, including wheelchair users, so they can decide the best route to take.
"It will also be useful for many older people, people with temporary injuries, and those travelling with buggies or lots of luggage."
London Underground has 54 step-free stations and 25% of stations will be step-free by 2010.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7850675.stm

Disabled badge abuse rife (From Basingstoke Gazette)

4:30pm Sunday 4th January 2009
By Lucie Richards »
BLUE Badge-holders in the south east are the most likely to lend their badges to friends and relatives according to a national survey.
Twenty-seven per cent of people with Blue Badges in the South East of England admitted to having lent their badge to friends or relatives – the highest rate in the country – according to research by the Department for Transport.
Most cited the reason that “it doesn’t harm anyone”, and only 43 per cent of people surveyed in the area think it is unacceptable to park in a disabled space without a badge.
Departmental chiefs say that as a result, 73 per cent of badge holders nationally report that they cannot always park near their destination.
The scheme, which was introduced 37 years ago, provides parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems or who have difficulty using public transport, and is used by about 2.3 million people across the country. Blue Badge holder Francesca Martinez, actress and comedienne who suffers from cerebral palsy, said: “My Blue Badge is a godsend that makes my daily life easier.
“As Blue Badge holders we all have a really important part to play in valuing our badges and not lending them to friends or relatives.
“I urge everyone to respect Blue Badges.”
More people will become eligible for the scheme as a result of planned changes – including more young children, severely disabled armed forces personnel, veterans and some people with temporary mobility problems. For more information click on www.dft.gov.uk/bluebadge