Wheelchair user's disgust at bus service

Steve Hayes

04 February 2010

A WHEELCHAIR user says Stratford is out-of-bounds to him because there is no suitable bus service from his home to the town.
Alastair Williams was dismayed to find out the main bus route from his new home in Alcester to Stratford does not have a disabled facility.
He visited the town on Christmas Eve and was left stranded after going for the number 26 bus from Redditch to Stratford only to be told it did not have the lowered platforms or room for a wheelchair, leaving him with no option to pay a costly taxi journey home.
Mr Williams, who suffers from spinal tumours, said Stagecoach confirmed to him there is no service between Alcester and Stratford which caters for wheelchair users.
He said: "I just think it is disgusting that there isn't a single service, my independence is very important to me but I am confined now.
"I was in Stratford on Christmas Eve and tried to come back but the bus didn't have the facility - I couldn't believe it.
"My medication was at home and I was in a lot of pain so I had to call a taxi and pay the fare.
"I have a bus pass granted from the council but what point is there if I can't use it?
"I haven't been getting about as much, I am forced to shop in stores near to me which are more expensive.
"Stratford is a big town but it just seems like they don't want wheelchairs users to get here."
A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council said they were working with transport operators to make vehicles accessible to wheelchairs but they said this was costly and could only be done gradually.
They said in the meantime the option available was the Community Links bus which operates on certain days and picks people up from their homes at a charge of £1.30 each way.
Adam Rideout, spokesman for Stagecoach, said the company had invested to make more than 80 per cent of all bus journeys accessible but the process had to be gradual.
He said: "We have a program in place to replace all the remaining high floor vehicles on the 50 or so routes we run across Warwickshire within the next five to seven years.
"We have been converting our Warwickshire bus fleet over the past 10 years to low floor, easy access buses, but at about £100,000 a bus, each current vehicle needs to run out a lifespan of approximately 15 years before we can replace it."

Plea for help with sick Olli's bills»

Fireman's election protest thwarted»

Stratford homes some of the least affordable»

Costly fare for taxi driver »

Gyrocopter blades cleaved hunt supporter's head in two»

Ezio return to Cox's»

Feats of arts»

Corrine brings The Sea to the Assembly»

Ibsen at The Bridge»

Dammers heads home»

Mel's high-flying bid thwarted by broken lift»

Hairdresser smashed into tree after night out drinking»

Trio bailed in Atherstone firefighter death probe»

New candidate's joy at selection»

Death crash driver escapes jail»

Talented youngster told to stay out of trouble»

Death fall man had been questioned over child porn»

Planning chief hits back over housing figures»

Man airlifted after crash»

Housing decision a disgrace say campaigners»