Sophie Christiansen: my fight for equality

Steve, sorry to hear of those woes but thanks for sharing. Sending folk unable to use the stairs to Hereford and back again sounds really daft.

I wonder how much effort has really gone into solving that problem. All you seem to have is a lowest cost token work around.

I’m guessing that Ledbury still has two platforms so trains can cross there. Otherwise they could just use the current westbound platform for all trains.

This problem occurs elsewhere. The situation at three stations in Norfolk is as follows –

At Wymondham the only way off the southbound platform is by climbing up a long flight of stairs and immediately going down a longer one. Getting on to the southbound platform is only slightly easier but still involves two flights of stairs. Disabled passengers from Norwich wishing to get off a train are advised to remain on the train and go on to Attleborough and then alight. They then need to leave the platform, go over the level crossing, cross the road, and go up the ramp onto the northbound platform [the two platforms are on either side of a main road] where they can wait for the next train back to Wymondham.

At Thetford passengers with mobility difficulties are advised to get a taxi to the other platform [assuming there is one available which is often not the case] for which the fare will be reimbursed or make a similar reverse journey to the next station and back.

At Diss the footbridge is very high because it has to clear the overhead electric cables. The station staff [if on duty] will escort a disabled passenger across the tracks on a level foot crossing but only when a white light is showing to indicate that there is no train approaching. The alternative is to make a round trip in either direction of about sixty miles and hope the wait for a return train is not too long.

All passengers who are encumbered with luggage, children, bicycles, and prams or are elderly or infirm also face these problems every day. A few years ago I wrote to the MP’s whose constituencies included these stations and received replies that expressed sympathy but no prospect of a solution. I don’t understand why the stations aren’t included as a priority in the ‘Access for All’ programme. Perhaps they are but the money available isn’t adequate. Thetford station is all listed as being of historical or architectural interest and that was given as an obstacle to improvement. The ancient iron footbridge with rotten floorboards is a Victorian original but I see no reason why a new one with lifts on each side could not be erected at the opposite end of the platforms where it would not impair the historical setting.

Blue badge holders can park on the public highway where or when waiting is not permitted so long as they do not cause an obstruction. This could possibly be useful in that situation, Wavechange, but if the street has been physically closed then I think the Post Office made a bad decision to relocate there and should be pressed to try to find a solution.

You are quite right, John, but the new Post Office is on a street marked “Pedestrian zone No vehicles”. The chap at the counter was aware the problem, said that they could do nothing, and suggested I contacted the MP, who he named. According to his voting record, our MP has generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights. 🙁

This comment was removed at the request of the user

Pedestrianised areas are expanding in towns and cities and, to my mind, are a good thing. However they should not exclude disabled people who want, or need access. Some will permit blue badge holders to park (up to 11:00 am) and it seems you can apply for a white badge to get more general access.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/further-details-contravention-code-54
https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/permit-access-pedestrian-zone-white-badge

Here is a photo of one of the signs identifying the pedestrian area:

I do not understand the ‘Have you paid and displayed?’ sign.

Malcolm – Your links seem to refer to Northern Ireland. White badges are in use in London too, but are certainly not universal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_parking_permit#England_and_Wales

Duncan – I could criticise our MP for a lot more but it’s not relevant to this topic.

In its previous location – not far away – disabled people could park outside the Post Office and there was short-stay parking for others nearby.

There are examples in Scotland and the UK where access is enabled to pedestrianised zones by qualifying people. I haven’t looked to see how extensive they are but one of my local towns had rising bollards controlling entry, activated by a card given to disabled people.
https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/transport-parking-and-streets/parking-and-permits/parking-permits/restricted-access-permits/
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/media/10632/Pedestrianised-zone-leaflet/pdf/2017507_pedestrian_zone.PDF?m=636510963957870000

Some disabled people are able to transfer from the car to a wheelchair but many cannot or need to have another person with them which not always be possible. In view of the suggestions made for facilitating access to the post office and other shops the local authority should be putting more effort into making suitable provision, either through physical measures like unlockable posts or rising bollards, or with designated spaces within the pedestrian zone, or through time adjustments to the vehicle ban [e.g. mornings only, or three days a week].

In the example shown for Wavechange’s local town I would say that disabled people should be able to take advantage of the loading exception [after 3:00 pm] so long as the blue badge and time clock were properly displayed.

Another possibility would be for the local council and/or the chamber of commerce or traders’ organisation to set up a transfer point with mobility scooters so that those driving in from out of town can easily access the town centre at any time.

You may be right about disabled people taking advantage of the loading exception, John, but the sign does not make this clear. Apart from in the evening, when deliveries are made and rubbish collected, I have not seen anything other than mobility scooters in the pedestrian precinct. There is an out-of-town Post Office a mile or so away and if the photo on Google Maps is up to date, you can park outside.

Thanks for the links Malcolm. I’m interested in provision for disabled drivers because my late mother could only walk short distances, even though she could manage round the house and even cope with the stairs. Sometimes she had to drive miles to visit shops with parking or disabled parking close to the entrance. In principle, a national system might seem best but on the other hand that lacks versatility.