Public transport is vital for disabled people, UNISON’s disabled members conference heard today.
Delegate after delegate told of their own experiences. Ipswich’s Kathy Bole had moved to an area that had public transport – only for it to be cut.
This made it “impossible for anyone who wants to be a productive worker,” she said.
And she continued: “It’s not just that I want to joyride around Suffolk – I need to get where I need to go.”
Liz Gregson from Newcastle city council was concerned about the reduction of concessionary travel grants.
The government is cutting the grants it pays to local councils, at the same time councils are having to spend more on concessionary travel. This leads to service cuts.
Conference called on branches to campaign to increase the accessibility of public transport for disabled people.
