I joined Keith Hatter, Chairman of Winchester Area Access For All (WAAFA) at South West Trains Accessibility conference last week.

‘I have been supporting WAAFA since it started and was pleased to give them a small Council devolved grant to kick start their running costs’. says Jackie.
It’s all about supporting those who have disabilities to live and work well, especially in the Winchester area.

This Accessibility event, led by South West Trains, was a good opportunity to talk to those who use and provide the public transport system-especially thinking of wheelchair, and blind and partially sighted users, and to discuss priorities with SW Trains Forward Planning team, and the Department for Transport. The picture attached shows Jackie and Jon Welsman, Transport Policy Officer,with his current guide dog, from The Guide Dogs from the Blind Association

‘The new lifts at Winchester station will make a real difference to disabled rail users. I want to help local residents and families with disabled children to feel more confident about using public transport. ‘ says Jackie, who is standing as the Lib Dem MP candidate for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford in 2015.

Jackie is pleased that Phil Dominey, the South West Trains Customer Support Manager has agreed to run a special event for disabled users soon.
‘Journeys by train are a good way to take the strain out of travelling- but the truth is that most passengers don’t know the help that’s out there. There’s a good website http://www.disability-onboard.co.uk you can use to find out more ‘ says Jackie.

Notes:
* 73 million journeys are made by disabled people across the rail network every year,with 4 million using disabled person’s railcards.It is estimated that the value of the disability rail journeys is around £300 million per annum.
* WAAFA’s recent Shop Awards ceremony was a way of highlighting the welcome that disabled people can expect in shops.

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