DISABLED TRANSPORT CONSULTATIVE GROUP
(DisTrans)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Press Releases
DISABLED TRANSPORT CONSULTATIVE GROUP (DisTrans)
For two years DGVoice ran a campaign against Dumfries and Galloway Council plans to charge disabled people for Blue Badges. DGVoice saw this policy as both unfair and discriminatory, as only disabled people would be charged for parking in Dumfries and Galloway.
DGVoice ran a press and media campaign, lobbied councillors, wrote to council officers, MP’s, MSP’s and opinion formers throughout the community. The campaign was hard fought, sometimes acrimonious, and ended with a Council decision, taken at a full meeting of the council, not to implement the charge.
Although DGVoice had campaigned against council policy, it had worked with the council on many other matters, and through the campaign had made many firm and constructive contacts. DGVoice resolved to ensure that a positive initiative giving a voice to the transport needs of disabled people in Dumfries and Galloway developed from the Blue Badge Campaign. And so the Disabled Transport Consultative Group (DisTrans) was born.
Initially DGVoice concentrated on Disabled Parking but almost immediately realised that there was a need for a Disabled Consultative Group covering all aspects of transport, particularly Parking, Road Safety and Transport Planning.
DisTrans held its inaugural meeting on 19th May, 2011. Present were representatives of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries and Galloway Police. DGVoice. The NHS, the Access Panel and the Area Transport Forum are also members of DisTrans.
A second meeting has been held on 30th June, 2011 when D&G Local Transport Strategy and Blue Badge Parking were among the matters discussed. Work to improve parking for Blue Badge Holders at DGRI and at NHS establishments across Dumfries and Galloway was highlighted.
The DisTrans remit is – ‘To be a stakeholder consultative group for transport and road safety in Dumfries and Galloway and operate as a conduit for representation and consultation between disabled people and policy makers.’
Visit our Website at www.dgvoice.co.uk for further details. There you can read the agendas and minutes of all DisTrans Meetings.
Ends
Robert Allan
Policy Officer
DGVoice
------------------------------------------
Agendas
DISABLED TRANSPORT ADVISORY GROUP (DPAG)
Date & Time of Meeting: Thursday 19th May, 2011, 10.00 a.m.
Place of Meeting: North West Resource Centre, Dumfries.
AGENDA
1. Remit
2. Name
3. Purpose
4. Disabled Persons Parking Places Act, Local Transport Strategy and Dumfries Parking Strategy – Russell Wears
5. Disabled Parking Issues
6. AOCB
7. Date of next meeting
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Minutes
Disabled Transport Consultative Group (DISTRANS)
Minutes of the Inaugural meeting - 19th May 2011 at 10am held at The North West Resource Centre, Dumfries
Present
Robert Allan-Policy Officer DG Voice
Stuart Burns- Dumfries and Galloway Police, Dumfries.
Heather Hall-Development Manager- DG Voice
Michael McDonald-Traffic Management Officer
Russell Wears-Principle Engineer DGC
Ann Wilson -Treasurer DGVoice
Apologies
Peter Ingram-Monk Chairperson Access Panel
Ian Walker Development Manager Accessible Transport Forum
Group remit
Discussion took place about the context of development and expected outcomes. Moving on from the successful campaign to rescind blue badge charging policy DGVoice in discussion with other stakeholders had agreed there was a need to work together to promote an equitable transport system which will enable disabled people to live learn and work on an equal basis. The remit will encompass all aspects of transport for disabled people and by extension, all D&G residents.
ACTION at the next meeting the group will agree the remit
Draft Remit -To be a stakeholder consultative group for transport and road safety in Dumfries and Galloway and operate as a conduit for representation and consultation between disabled people and policy makers.
ACTION group members will consider who needs to be included in the group. Robert Allan policy Officer DGVoice will approach David Brydon Ops Manager NHS.
Group name
Discussion took place about the name based on the draft remit of the group
ACTION at the next meeting the group should agree the name
Draft name – Disabled Transport Consultative group ( Distrans)
Disabled Persons Parking Places Act, Local Transport Strategy and Dumfries Parking Strategy Dumfries
Russell gave an overview of the Act and the development of the Parking Strategy in D&G including issues around disabled parking in Dumfries and enforceability of disabled parking bays on public, NHS and private grounds.
Action Russell will feedback DG Voice members view that whilst recognising the resource restrictions imposed on councils that all disabled parking places should be enforceable.
Disabled parking issues
Robert outlined a case brought to the groups attention by Councillor Witts. This was discussed and Russell advised that the parking area described was on a road that is un-adopted and is therefore the responsibility of DGHP.
Frequency of Meetings
This was discussed in relation to regular and adhoc meetings
Agreed The group will meet quarterly and on an ad hoc basis as required to respond to policy and strategy development and where direct consultation with disabled peoples groups is required
Date of next meeting 30th June, 2011
------------------------------------------------
Disabled Transport Consultative Group (DISTRANS)
Minutes of the Inaugural meeting - 19th May 2011 at 10am in The North West Resource Centre, Dumfries
Present
Robert Allan (RA) -Policy Officer DG Voice
Michael McDonald (MMcD) -Traffic Management Officer
Russell Wears (RW) -Principle Engineer DGC
Peter Ingram-Monk (PI) - Chairperson Access Panel
Ian Walker (IW) - Development Manager Accessible Transport Forum
Apologies
Ann Wilson -Treasurer DGVoice
Heather Hall-Development Manager- DG Voice
Stuart Burns- Dumfries and Galloway Police, Dumfries.
Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
Minutes and group remit was agreed unanimously. Adopted MMcD and RW
RA has invited David Bryson to attend the group.
DISTRANS was unanimously agreed as the group name.
Action: RA will invite John Alexander to attend the group.
Cresswell Hill – Update
RA is meeting with residents on 5th July.
Local Transport Strategy
RW informed that at the PHS committee it was agreed that the document should go out for public consultation. The draft work plan contains:
- List of policies and actions to be delivered. Sets foundation and time limited to 5 years.
- Central theme – use of cars and providing.
- Putting sustainable transport where it will work and support use of cars when cannot work.
5 or 6 strategies have been identified to stop the spiral of degrading public transport and everything has to be DDA compliant in the strategy.
RW briefly outlined the work plan and concluded that it would be circulated to the public for consultation by mid-August.
Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009
RW distributed the following papers:
- Dumfries and Galloway ‘Off-street Parking’ standards.
- Transport Scotland Standards.
- Traffics signs and regulations referring to 661A and road diagram 1033.
The Council’s own standard will be recommended for use to NHS, police, doctor’s surgeries etc. The standards will be taken to a working group and opinions heard. When the order is written to adopt the markings, hopefully by the end of September and can then be advertised.
AOCB
None
Date of next meeting
Thursday 6th October at the Northwest Resource Centre, Dumfries
----------------------------------------------------
