CENTRAL BEDS ACCESS GROUP

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY (MAINTAINED EARLY YEARS SETTINGS AND SCHOOLS) – FINAL DRAFT

Central Bedfordshire Accessibility Strategy:

Local Authority Strategy on Accessibility in Schools and Early Years Settings1 2010-2012

INTRODUCTION

Central Bedfordshire believes that every child/young person should be able to access the full curriculum and other opportunities that are provided though their local early years setting/school, and will work with these settings to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made to make this is possible.

This Strategy has been written with support from the Central Beds Access Group.

Central Bedfordshire has a Disability Equality Scheme which is part of a broader Equality Scheme which should be read in conjunction with this strategy. (LINK)

For further details use the link below

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/images/Draft%20Central%20Bedfordshire%20Accessibility%20Strategy_tcm5-25263.pdf

********************************

3rd October 2010

Hospital car parking charges.

Latest response

********************************************************************************* 

The Letter. The Answer. The latest on what the Government says.

Let the Access Group know your thoughts.

EXPENSIVE hospital car park charges are increasing the stress on patients and their families during visits, a study has shown. Hospitals are using clamping firms to boost their revenues and one trust in rakes in nearly £2million a year from parking charges and fines. In total England’s NHS trusts earn £100million a year from parking, adding to the expenses and worries of out-patients and hospital visitors at what is already often a stressful time.

Hospitals will be free to charge patients fees of up to £4 an hour to park their cars, the Coalition announced yesterday. Ministers confirmed they would scrap Labour's pledge to bring England into line with Scotland and Wales by banning charges within three years. Such a measure would be too expensive, they claimed – prompting angry accusations that the Government had failed patients.

No end to charges: Hospitals can continue to charge patients for car parking say ministers. Trusts rake in more than £100million a year from what critics say is a 'tax on the sick', and Ministers say hospitals cannot afford to do without this money at a time of threatened cuts. The Health Minister said he did not want to dictate to hospitals whether they should charge, the decision will be left to trusts.

Patients and visitors have to pay between 30p and £4 an hour to park, with cancer patients hit the hardest because they have to keep returning for treatment.

The charges have been abolished in Scotland, and will end in Wales next year.

At last year's Labour conference the then health secretary, said they would also be scrapped in England by 2013 if his party was in power.

The Government had embarked on a 'very clear strategy' of reducing central control and intervention in the NHS. 'Telling the NHS how to run their car parks would be inconsistent with this principle.' he added. Mr Burns went on to say “our strategy also puts patients at the centre of decision-making, and supports patients to be able to make informed choices”. 'It is clear from the consultation feedback that parking policies and practices in some trusts fall short of these standards. 'Patients undergoing extended outpatient treatment, and long-stay inpatients, should not be further disadvantaged, and nor should their health needs be possibly compromised by high cumulative parking costs. 'A fair scale of concessionary rates should be offered, and all eligible patients should be fully informed and helped to take advantage of them.'

Mr Burns said the Government would be asking trusts to work with local groups to see if their policies are 'genuinely fair' and ask the NHS Confederation to 'engage further with parking providers and patient advocate groups' to respond to concerns. He added: 'Local autonomy requires local accountability. It is for trust boards to ensure that their policy is fair and patient-centred, and has the support of its local community.

'The challenge now is for the NHS, collectively and locally, to take action to deliver the fair access that their patients expect.'

Ciaran Devane of Macmillan Cancer Support said: 'The Government has failed cancer patients today. 'They typically make 53 trips to hospital during treatment.'          

Research has shown that too many hospitals are using excessive charges, fines and clamping to control parking.

'Visiting hospitals is stressful enough without the added burden of battling with the parking system.

'If hospitals are to manage car parking on a local level, they need to do so in a way that is fair to their patients and visitors.'

**************************************************

Blind and Visually Impaired people to receive Mobility Component

From 2011, over 20,000 severely visually impaired people in the UK will be eligible to receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

The RNIB has spearheaded the campaign to get the DWP to recognise that the mobility problems faced by those who are severely visually impaired are on a par with those whose mobility is affected by other physical disabilities. Although many visually impaired people may physically be able to walk, they may not be able to travel outside their homes without being accompanied, impacting severely on their ability to work, socialise and live independently.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, Chief Executive of RNIB says: "We are overjoyed by this announcement. It is a fantastic victory for people with severe visual impairment and for everybody who has supported RNIB`s two and a half year campaign to end this long standing injustice.”

Age cut-off still a barrier to mobility
However, Mobilise is concerned that unless the government alters the criteria for DLA as whole, the new eligibility will not benefit those who register as blind for the first time once over the age of 65. At the moment, if you receive DLA before the age of 65 you are entitled to carry on receiving this benefit (assuming your condition does not improve). But you cannot apply for DLA for the first time, or move from the lower to the higher rate if your condition deteriorates, if you are over the age of 65.
The RNIB estimate that there are 857,750 people over the age of 65 who are either blind or severely visually impaired in the UK. According to the NHS, almost 9,000 people over the age of 65 in England alone register as blind or severely visually impaired for the first time each year. These new cases would be unable to claim due to the age cut-off point for DLA mobility component, which Mobilise believes constitutes age discrimination.

************************************************

Guide dogs and registered assistance dogs, travelling with a disabled person in a Licensed Taxi or Private Hire vehicle 

The Access Group was contacted recently by a disabled person who had been charged £2 extra by a licensed taxi driver for transporting her guide dog. This is illegal.

This matter has been directed to the Licensing Officer of the Central Bedfordshire Council

If you have similar experiences please contact us with the details.

The Disability Discrimination Act and duties on service providers

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) provides legislation to protect the rights of disabled people and has been implemented over a number of years.

It gives disabled people the rights of access to services on non-discriminatory terms. The use of taxis or private hire vehicles by disabled people is covered under both Part 3 and Part 5 of the DDA 1995 (as amended by the DDA 2005).

Duties under Part 5 of the DDA In England and Wales:

Since 31 March 2001, drivers of licensed taxis (hackney carriages) have had a duty to carry, without additional cost, any guide dog, or any other registered assistance dog, travelling with a disabled person.

Since 31 March 2004, drivers of licensed private hire vehicles have had a similar duty. Similar provisions also apply to PHV operators, who are prohibited from refusing a booking by a disabled person accompanied by a guide dog or other assistance dog.

In Scotland:

Since 1 March 2003, drivers of taxis have had a duty to carry, without additional cost, any guide dog, or any other registered assistance dog, travelling with a disabled person.

**********************************************************

In December 2008 the Mid Bedfordshire Access Group at the invitation of a Town Council entered into talks regarding the design of new allotment plots .

It has now been proven that at the time of discussion the Council failed to disclose to the Access Group the fact that allotment plots at one of their sites which they “had let go fallow” around 2001/2002 had been done without following the correct procedure under Section 8 of the 1925 Allotment Act.

The Access Group at its recent AGM agreed that the donation of £75 from the Town Council for the research carried out and ideas put forward by the Group, will not be presented to the bank until the Town Council can prove that correct procedures have been adhered to. This to include applying under the said Act to the Secretary of State and allowing any objections to the decommissioning to be aired by the residents of the town at a meeting to be publicly advertised by the Town Council. Ends

Chairman

Central Beds Access Group

Previously known as: Mid Bedfordshire Access Group 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Local authorities and allotments plots:

In the present economic climate the request for allotment plots has hit an all time high. Has your local council taken into consideration that disabled residents would if available, love to enjoy the outside life and join that wonderful community of allotment holders and grow their own vegetables?  I am sure those of you who have sat in your homes watching the news could not have missed the item that the National Trust are giving over plots of land to communities for allotments. Councils have an obligation to ensure this amenity is made available to all residents; many do but forget the needs of the16% who are disabled.

The Access Group recently met with a council to discuss a new area of allotment plots which is under construction and we suggested the development should include raised plots, adequate pathways and toilets to allow the ambulant disabled, visually impaired and wheelchair user the opportunity to “grow their own”. We are asking “have your council provided facilities”, similar to the above. Have you met and spoken to your local council suggesting the inclusion of raised allotment plots if so, what was their response. Let us know of the outcome.

Info.accessgroup@btinternet.com

 ______________________________

Our repy to Flitwick Town Council

 MINUTES OF THE 304TH MEETING OF FLITWICK TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
20TH MAY 2008 AT THE RUFUS CENTRE

Having read the minutes of the Local Amenities Committee I feel that all mentioned could have been avoided if only the Flitwick Town Council had accepted the Access Group’s help when it was offered in 2006. I refer to the Audit carried out with the approval of the Greensand Trust and presented at a meeting in January of that year. The then Town Mayor returned from the meeting with a copy of the audit and the offer of the same presentation to the Full Council. The one recommendation the Access Group has made is the construction of a pathway approximately 200yds in length starting at the Kissing Gate and finishing close to the “three trees”. This would have given those with a disability a point where they could take in the parkland and decide whether they could venture further or return to their vehicles, unfortunately this request although supported by the Greensand Trust has up to now been ignored. 


Our observations to the “comments” are in blue

4018 TO CONFIRM AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE 67TH MEETING OF THE
LOCAL AMENITIES COMMITTEE HELD ON 16TH APRIL 2008

(ii) The Chairman of the Local Amenities Committee commented on an article in the local papers regarding the Manor Park, which had been based on a private conversation between Mr Storey and himself, but he had not anticipated it being turned into a newspaper article. He was disappointed that Mr Storey was pursuing this matter in this way.

This was not a private conversation it was an enquiry by the Access Group after two members had visited the Manor Land. I was disappointed by the response I received that “The Town Council owned the land and could do what it wanted as it was not governed by the DDA”. This was not an acceptable answer and was totally incorrect. This is discussed later in my response. The Town Clerk was informed immediately of the conversation and its content.


4018 contd.

(iii) It was also noted that this matter had been put on the Mid Bedfordshire Access Group’s website and also on the Flitwick Matters website, which advised that a representative from the Guide Dogs from the Blind had visited the site to “check it out”. Members were disappointed that the Guide Dogs from the Blind organisation had not contacted the Town Council direct.

The Access Group has its own website which it uses to communicate disability issues for those within Mid Bedfordshire area. The Access Group is a small independent community group with limited resources and the web site is a very effective method of communicating and applying leverage to issues in the wider community.
As to member’s disappointment at not being consulted by Guide Dog Association for Britain the Guide Dog Association for Britain (GDAB) did make contact with Flitwick Town Council by way of email. As a result of this representatives of GDBA met with the Town Clerk at the Manor Park in 2007. The representatives of the GDBA included Jean Bird, District Representative of GDBA for Bedfordshire; Jill Kenyon of the Guide Dogs for the Blind (Head Office) and Mike Hiscox also of the GDBA, St Albans Office, together with Mr Martin Usher Access Officer MBDC. We are not aware of any outcomes as a result of this meeting.

(iv) A Member commented that he understood Disabled Access was about being fair and reasonable and the problems commented on in the Manor Park land were also present in Ampthill Park. It was felt that the Mid Bedfordshire Access Group had not taken these same issues up with Ampthill Town Council.

The Access Group has a good working relationship with Ampthill Town The Group has attended meetings at Ampthill Park to discuss various matters regarding improvements in disabled access to the Park. The Access Group has, at the invitation of Ampthill Town Council, attended a council meeting on Wednesday 7th February 2007 at 7.30 pm to make a presentation and provide interpretation and guidance. It would be fair to say that not all the issues relating to Ampthill Park have been resolved to date. However and more importantly Ampthill Town council have displayed a positive attitude to the needs of their community and are working with groups like ourselves towards a range of solutions. We feel that the comparison drawn between the Manor Park and Ampthill Park only amplifies the difference in attitude between the two organisations responsible.


(v) Another Member supported the Local Amenities Chairman’s comments and felt that this matter had been dealt with and that the comments referred to and further comments/communications should be terminated.

This matter may have been “dealt with” by the LAC but clearly there has been no commitment or any action to improve access to the Manor Park. We will therefore continue to lobby for improved access for disabled people to the Manor Park, monitor the actions of the LAC and make public our findings.

(vi) A Member felt that the Town Council had a requirement to provide Disabled Access and was advised that the only Disabled facilities requested by MBDC under the planning conditions had been the provision of disabled parking which had been installed, and there had been no other comments/stipulations relating to this matter.

The Planning Conditions do not affect the Town Council’s responsibilities under the “2004 Service Providers Act”. The Council have an ongoing and continuing responsibility under Part 3 of the Act as a Service Provider.

(vii) Concern was also expressed as to why this had been put on a web site that had nothing to do with the Town Council.

Would the Town Council have made it available on their site, I think not. Think of it as Freedom of Information?

(viii) A Member commented that part of the Park was under English Heritage and therefore the Town Council was restricted in what it could do.

English Heritage act purely in an advisory position in matters pertaining to the conservation to organisations such as Flitwick Town Council. The Town Council has the responsibility for co-ordinating both the needs of conservation and the needs of the disabled community. While there are often areas of conflict between the two factions there are many case studies where the needs of the conservationist and the local community have been resolved to the benefit of all

• Under DDA guidelines organisations had to do everything fair and reasonable to comply with the regulations, which it was felt that Town Council had done.

We would disagree on this point. The duty to make reasonable adjustments places service providers under a responsibility to take such steps as are reasonable, in all the circumstances of the case, for it to have to take in order to make reasonable adjustments. The Act does not specify that any particular factors should be taken into account. What is reasonable for a particular service provider to have to take depends upon the circumstances of the case.

• Members were aware why articles were placed on the various websites inviting residents to raise their concern, but those residents were not willing to come forward and put their concerns direct to the Town Council and until such times as official comments were received no further action to be taken.

With effect from December 2006 Flitwick Town Council has had an obligation under the General Duty to create and implement policies, procedures and practices as part of their Disability Equality Duty (DED) The DED requires Public bodies to take a more proactive, more explicit, more involved and more comprehensive approach to promoting disability equality and eliminating discrimination.
At the heart of the Disability Equality Duty is the requirement to involve disabled people in producing the Disability Equality Scheme including the action plan? It is not the case that Flitwick Town Council should be waiting for residents to raise issues regarding disabled access, they have a legal obligation to be out there and be proactive.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

31st January 2008

- PRESS RELEASE: - - Fieldsman Trails, the North Wales based Disability Access and Multi Format Publishing company has joined forces with a local bookshop, to establish a unique online service supplying Maps (National Parks) and other products in a variety of formats.
www.fieldsmanbookshop.co.uk. supplies, Tactile, Relief, Large Print and Braille Maps. Also, Talking Pictures(Birds / Mountains) , Greetings Cards..etc , as well as Guide Books of Accessible places to visit, in order to plan your trip prior to arrival, whether as a visually impaired or blind walker , wheelchair user or walking with a pushchair.
Advice is also available on line or using other preferred methods..phone,fax,.,regarding information about walking locations best suited to your lifestyle. The site has received excellent reviews from local , National and International Disability organisations. The American Foundation for the Blind was so impressed with the site ,they have added a link from their website . Phone contact: The Bookshop- 01352 759879 ;Email : moldbooks@btconnect.com.

Latest: September 27th 07

Dropped Kerb Issues

 Hi Roy,

The Report indicates the works are currently on the structural maintenance program to be actioned in 2008.

I have requested information on how the delay can be justified as request made in May 2006.

This will probably upset the Area Technician but possibly accellerate. It looks like budget constraint but hopefully we will get some indication ?

Thank you for contacting Bedfordshire Highways.
If we can be of further assistance please do let us know.
Regards 
                                                       ______________________

©