OCEANS APART Minister tells world, UK We’re bored with strategies . . . will be best for access we want action and investment
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DISABILITY minister Tom Pursglove told a UN conference of his ambition to make the UK the most accessible place in the world for disabled people to live and work.
He told an international conference on disability rights: “The global context of numerous humanitarian and economic crises, plus the continuing impact of the pandemic, means disability inclusion risks falling further down the agenda.
“The UK remains committed to championing disability rights and inclusion globally.”
Addressing the 16th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16), he added: “Following the launch of our international Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy last year, the UK is focussed on embedding its principles.”
BRITAIN still has a long way to go to just securing access right for disabled travellers, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson told MPs.
A crossbench peer, wheelchairuser and accessible transport campaigner, Baroness Grey-Thompson said there was “a complete failure to enforce” laws on accessible travel.
She added: “We’re constantly told, ‘It will never happen again, it’s just you [this is happening to], we’re really sorry,’ and we’re expected to go away.”
The Baroness said the Disability
Discrimination Act had promised accessible rail travel by 2020, but the Government was now suggesting it would be 100 years before there was step-free access.
She tole the House of Commons Transport Select Committee: “So in my lifetime I will not be able to get on a train without the permission or support of a non-disabled person.”
She also highlighted concerns that Network Rail was building new inaccessible footbridges.
“How can Network Rail build a footbridge that has steps, in this day and age? How did it get through?”
Baroness GreyThompson said the Government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy was “just another strategy, and disabled people are slightly bored by strategies.
“For me, the
Government needs to take equal access seriously. We need action and investment.”
Christiane Link, a consultant and adviser on accessibility to the aviation and transport industry for more than 20 years, said: “We have to change the culture in the industry from the top down.
“The Department for Transport must give a clear message that this is not acceptable anymore and that there will be severe issues if this doesn’t stop.”
Activist Alan Benson, said: “Until we treat accessibility like we treat health and safety, it’s not going to change.”
And campaigner
Stephen Anderson said he has been refused service by private hire vehicles 43 times because he was travelling with his guide dog.
He said: “The problem is with these regulators there’s no teeth, there’s absolutely no teeth.”
The consultation runs until July 21. consultations.caa.co.uk/corporatecommunications/performance-framework-forairlineaccessibility/
You can also write to: Consumer Protection, Consumer & Markets Group, Civil Aviation Authority, 11 Westferry Circus, London E14 4HD