A WELSH Liberal Democrat Assembly Member is urging people with disabilities in North Wales to send their views and experiences about the accessibility of railway stations to the National Assembly for Wales Equality of Opportunity Committee.
The committee is undertaking an inquiry to explore actions the Welsh Government and other key organisations could take to improve the accessibility of railway stations in Wales. The inquiry will consider the following:
Eleanor Burnham, AM for North Wales, said “Last year, I joined members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society at Wrexham General Station to raise awareness of the difficulties many people with disabilities experience when travelling by public transport. I was astounded by many people’s experiences of travelling across Wales and heard how only 45% of railway stations provide wheelchair access to the platform and the train and with 83% of stations being unstaffed, most people in wheelchairs, using a frame, or even parents with pushchairs, are reluctant to take the train home when there is high chance of being stranded.
“This protest took place in advance of a motion brought forward by the Welsh Liberal Democrats MS to get an all-party agreement in the National Assembly to draw up an action plan to make public transport accessible to all.
"I was most disappointed that the Labour-Plaid Government failed to support the motion at that time.
“A few months later, I am delighted, as a member of the National Assembly for Wales Equality of Opportunity Committee, that an inquiry is being undertaken to explore actions the Welsh Government and other key organisations could take to improve the accessibility of railway stations in Wales.
"The inquiry will consider the range of difficulties experienced by people as a result of inaccessible platforms and facilities at railway stations, problems in getting from the platform on to and off the train and whether stations are unstaffed and what arrangements have been put in place by train operators to help people overcome these difficulties.”
Anyone who is concerned about the accessibility of railway stations in Wales to send their views and experiences to the National Assembly for Wales Equality of Opportunity Committee.
Submissions can be emailed to the clerk of the committee equality.comm@wales.gsi.gov.uk or can be posted to before 1 April 2010: Committee Clerk, Equality of Opportunity Committee National Assembly for Wales, Pierhead Street, Cardiff, CF99 1NA. Or for further details, please contact Eleanor Burnham’s Regional office on 01978 366154.