MINUTES
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7TH FEBRUARY 2019 IN THOMAS HERD HOUSE, WARD
ROAD, DUNDEE.
PRESENT: Erik Cramb, Anne Farrow, Sandy
Cameron, Denise Cameron, Jan Goodall, Denis Bethell, Dorothy Wilson, Lynda Sawers,
Michael Leeland, Carol Anderson (Age Concern), Jim Donnet.
APOLOGIES: Carole Craig, John Mitchell, Bill Varney, Lillian
Malcolm, Heather Flood.
1. INVITED VISITOR: Caroline Kennedy, a
commissioner with the Poverty and Inequality Commission attended our meeting to
collect information to give to the Scottish Government about the affordability,
accessibility and reliability of transport for older and disabled people in the
Dundee area.
We told Caroline of many problems older and
disabled people face, some of which were:
·
Some people
are eligible for bus passes but can’t use them because they are unable to get
to bus stops
·
Not enough
buses running in the evenings
·
The uncertainty
of being allowed on a bus because they are only allowed to carry one wheelchair
·
Taxis are
too expensive for most people and the subsidy they previously had has been
withdrawn
·
Wheelchair
accessible taxis sometimes being reluctant to take wheelchairs e.g. saying ‘your
wheelchair is too heavy for my ramp’
·
Taxis accepting
phone bookings but not turning up.
·
Concern
was expressed about the effects there would be on disabled drivers if Workplace
Parking Charges were introduced.
We are
pleased that the Scottish Government will be made aware of the problems faced
by older and disabled in Scotland.
Should anyone have a problem with a taxi or
taxi driver they should firstly complain to the taxi company and then to the
licensing authority.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
The minutes of the meeting held
on 6th December 2018 were approved.
3.
MATTERS
ARISING:
3.1.
(Re minute
2.1). Heather was not at the meeting to
tell us more about the lift at T J Hughes.
3.2.
(Re
minute 3.2). We were happy with Frank Sheach’s response to the matters raised
at our last meeting and we appreciated his offer to attend one of our meetings.
3.3.
(Re
minute 3.3). Lillian attended two site visits in November to provide a wheelchair
user’s view of the cycle routes Dundee’s ‘Northern Links’ project proposes to
create connecting communities in the north-east and north-west to the city
centre. When the concept
designs are available, she will meet with Caley McDowall, SYSTRA Ltd to discuss them.
4 OTHER AGENDA ITEMS:
4.1 Sandy had nothing new to report.
5
CORRESPONDENCE:
By email
5.1
Disability
Equality Scotland Newsletters.
5.2
The ALLIANCE
Weekly Bulletins.
5.3
Inclusion
Scotland E-bulletins.
5.4
On 6/12/18 from
Dorothy Wilson sending leaflet from CAPA (Care about Physical Activity).
5.5
On 7/12/18 from
Dorothy Wilson sending info re launch of Re-discover Dundee which hopes to
enable locals test ride e-bikes and trikes.
5.6
On 10/12/18 from Dundee
Council sending info re the Dundee & Angus Independent Living web site, a
resource for people who would benefit from support to remain independent in
their homes.
5.7
On 20/12/18 from
DES sending their Access Panel Newsletter.
5.8
On 21/12 18 from
Anne Farrow sending link to get Motability’s ‘The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain’ free download.
5.9
On 8/1/19 from
Dorothy Wilson forwarding Xplore Dundee’s response to comments made about their
new Emerald buses.
5.10
On 11/1/19 from
Dundee Council sending info re Cycling Without Age Information Session on 15th
January 2019.
5.11
On 14/1/19 from
Joyce Barclay, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, saying that the Dundee
Integration Joint Board Equality Outcomes are undergoing review and they would
like our opinions.
Carole and Erik had
attended. They were pleased to hear all of what the Board would like to do but were
concerned that resources were a major problem.
5.12
On 17/1/19 from Charlie
Heenan, Jon Frullani Architect Ltd, re the proposed
Gelateria at 246 Perth Road, Dundee, confirming to Carole that the unit is
provided with level access and has a fully accessible WC, but they cannot
provide a low counter installation for pay. However, they have made the franchise
owner aware that the design of the counter tops must change if any more units
are to open in Scotland.
5.13
On 18/1/19 from
DES re Parley at the Parly. DES is
hosting a discussion event for the Access Panel Network in the Scottish
Parliament on 14 March. 2 members from each Access Panel are invited to attend
this event and each Access Panel is asked to submit a question in advance
related to the theme “Improving sustainability and local engagement of the
Access Panel Network in Scotland”.
5.14
On 25/1/19 from
DVA sending January edition of the Dundee Third Sector Interface E-Bulletin.
5.15
On 29/1/19 from
Caley McDowall, Systra, re the ‘Northern Links’ project which proposes to
create three strategic cycle routes connecting communities in the north-east
and north-west to the city centre. She would like our views on the concept
infrastructure designs before they are finalised.
6 A.O.B.
6.1
Erik visited
Coffee & Co recently and was impressed by their disabled toilet. He was
told by the manager that they had a portable ramp to enable wheelchair users to
access the building. Carole will get them a sign for their window to say that
they have a ramp available and Lynda will visit for a coffee before our next
meeting.
6.2
Dawn Taylor, Leonard
Cheshire, was in touch to say that Andrew Peel, one of their volunteer
speakers, is keen to go to group events and talk about disability inclusion
within the workplace and local community as well as Leonard Cheshire. Anne will
invite him to our next meeting.
6.3
Jan
handed out leaflets about the Community Car Scheme which provides older people with door-to-door transport. They
do this by recruiting volunteer drivers who give their time and use their own
cars, and people can use the service for many purposes, such
as visiting friends, attending social events, shopping, or medical
appointments.
6.4
Dorothy said
that the Regional Performance Centre for Sport
in Caird Park, can be visited on 'Doors Open Day' on 22nd March 2019.
7 DATE
OF NEXT MEETING.
The next meeting is on Thursday 7th
March 2019 in Thomas Herd House, 10 - 12 Ward Road, Dundee,
DD1 1LX.
web: www.dundeeaccessgroup.co.uk email: dundeeaccessgroup.org@hotmail.co.uk