Annual Report 2004-2005

B: Activities and achievements in 2004-2005 and future plans

16. In this section we set out our main activities and achievements over the past year. After this we outline some key tasks for the coming year. We will do this firstly for the various modes of transport, secondly for the built environment, and thirdly for education and training.

Aviation

17. This year the main focus of the Aviation Working Group has been developing the specification for accessible on-board toilets. Following our consultation last year, we have been working with airlines and aircraft manufacturers to finalise the specification. We expect to publish the specification before the end of 2005.

18. Alongside this, we have started to develop a specification for on-board wheelchairs, which is another key issue of concern to disabled people and to the aviation industry. We have appointed consultants to carry out research into existing products, specifications and regulations.

19. DPTAC has worked with Guide Dogs and other Assistance Dogs organisations to develop guidance on travelling abroad with an assistance dog. This guidance was launched in March 2005.

20. We have also advised on a number of other publications. These include a proposed joint Department for Transport and British Health Trades Association leaflet "Get Wise When You Fly With Your Wheelchair", and material for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

21. DPTAC members have continued to attend the Heathrow Terminal 5 liaison sub-committee and give advice to ensure that this project is a model of good practice for accessibility.

22. We also continue to be involved in the Department for Transport's work monitoring the effectiveness of the voluntary Air Access Code of Practice. This research will be critical to the Government's decision on whether to lift the exemption that airline services currently have from the general duties on service providers in Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act.

23. In the coming year we plan to:

• Publish the specification for accessible on-board toilets.
• Develop the specification for an on-board wheelchair, after consultation with industry and disabled people.
• Advise the Government on its response to the European Community proposal for a draft regulation covering the rights of disabled people in relation to air travel.

Buses, Coaches and Community Transport

24. We have reviewed research on concessionary fares. Ministers recently announced that, from April 2006, the current off - peak local concession available on buses to disabled and older people in England will be free of charge.

25. In the coming year we plan to:

• Review the roll out of the new concessionary fares for disabled people in Scotland and Wales to see what lessons can be learned for England.
• Encourage and help the Government to move towards amending the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 to cover the provision of audible and visual information systems on buses.
• Consider what changes to the work of the regulatory authorities (e.g. Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, Traffic Commissioners, Passenger Transport Authorities, local authorities) might lead to better enforcement of the PSV (Conduct) Regulations 2002.

Maritime

26. We carried out our major review of the impact of our guidance on large passenger ships and infrastructure. Shipping services are currently exempt from the general duties on service providers in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Our research will be critical to the Government's decision on whether to use the new powers that it has secured in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 which will allow it to lift the exemption. The research will be published later this year.

27. We have worked closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in developing guidance on how best to meet the requirements of a recent European Union Directive on Measures for Persons with Reduced Mobility, together with a National Action Plan. The MCA has been consulting on this guidance. We benefited from the assistance of the expertise of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland on these two pieces of work.

28. We have been monitoring pilot trials of guide dogs on Brittany Ferries vessels. The company had refused to permit people with assistance dogs from being accompanied by them on the vessel. We are pleased that, following the trials, Brittany Ferries has changed its policy.

29. In the coming year we plan to:

• Disseminate the results of our review of the impact of our guidance for larger passenger ships.
• Review our guidance for larger vessels in the light of the research and develop revised guidance.
• Advise the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on how to report on its Action Plan in relation to the European Union Directive on Measures for Persons with Reduced Mobility.

Personal Mobility and Local Authorities

30. DPTAC has responded to a number of significant consultations relating to the personal mobility of disabled people and the role of local authorities in meeting their transport needs. These have included guidance on local transport plans, briefing on the new disability duties for public authorities, and proposals to change the London congestion charge. DPTAC is developing a position paper on wider issues relating to the charging of road users. These featured importantly in the Department for Transport's 2004 White Paper "The Future of Transport".

31. We have also developed a research proposal to identify how Home Zones could more sensitively meet the needs of disabled people. This has now received ministerial approval.

32. In the coming year we plan to:

• Do further work on our position paper on road user charging.
• Respond to further key government consultations, including on the new public sector duties in respect of disabled people.
• Assist the Government in the implementation of our recommendations for changes to the Blue Badge Scheme. These will include responding to the consultation on the draft guidance to accompany the new enforcement powers, and the Department for Transport's research into the feasibility of a national database of Blue Badge holders.

Rail

33. Rail policy has been a fast-moving area for DPTAC, in the year in which the Government secured the legislation for its new arrangements for the management of the rail industry.

34. As part of the pre-consultation on the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA) disability strategy and its proposals for funding and prioritising accessibility improvements, Ann Bates, Chair of the Rail Working Group met David Quarmby Chairman of the SRA. The formal consultation was launched in March at the SRA Railways for All Conference where Ann was a keynote speaker and chaired a discussion session. The consultation responses will be used to shape the final strategy by the Department for Transport, who assume responsibility for the accessibility agenda.

35. The SRA also consulted us on the process for deciding on requests for dispensations from its Code of Practice on Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers. We have now started to receive requests to advise on dispensations under this process. We have also commented further to the Department for Transport on the setting of an end date for all rail vehicles to comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations.

36. We have advised the Secretary of State on 12 applications from six companies for exemptions from the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. One of these was the subject of debate in the House of Lords on 11 October 2004.

37. Following a request from Transport Minister Charlotte Atkins MP, DPTAC met with representatives of the Joint Committee for Blind and Partially Sighted People to discuss their Level Crossings Policy Statement. We agreed to endorse this Policy Statement and took it forward for discussion at the National Level Crossing Steering Group.

38. This year the DPTAC Rail Group has advised on a number of projects, including improving access for disabled travellers within the major renovation and remodelling project at Wembley Central Station, advising First Great Western on refurbishment designs for their high speed train fleet and South West Trains on improvements to the provision of facilities for disabled travellers in the guards vans of 2 trains. These Mark 1 "slam door" trains will be used on the new Lymington Heritage Line in Hampshire.

39. We have also been involved in a number of industry projects looking at the carriage of pavement vehicles or 'scooters' as they are sometimes known on trains. Ann Bates sits on the Association of Train Operating Companies Steering Group which is looking to set a unified National Strategy.

40. We contributed to the National Audit Office Value for Money Research Study on Maintaining and Improving Britain's Railway Stations. This included Ann Bates representing DPTAC at the Expert Panel meetings. The report will be published in Summer 2005.

41. DPTAC members and Secretariat have also participated in a number of Rail related events and conferences this year, including UK Council on Deafness's Access to Building and Transport Conference, the Department for Transport's Safety in Numbers Conference and Railtex 2004, the rail technology exhibition.

42. In the coming year, in addition to continuing to work on the initiatives above, we also plan to:

• Develop and publish guidance to passengers and industry on boarding and alighting rail vehicles using ramps.
• Advise on the Franchise Replacement Programme including Disabled Peoples Protection Policies and Schedules of Minor Works.

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

43. We have commented on the findings of the Department for Transport's research on the ergonomics of a range of options for design modifications improving the accessibility of taxis. We also responded to a Transport for London consultation on Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness for taxis. We continued to distribute our best practice guide for the Private Hire Vehicle industry. This guide, providing practical advice to drivers and operators on how to provide a good service to disabled passengers, was launched in 2004.

44. Next year we will offer advice on the point at which a service is offered and the limits of the duty of care on a taxi/PHV driver. We will also update our guidance for taxi drivers. We look forward to working with the industry on these initiatives.

Built Environment

45. In 1999 the Disability Rights Task Force recommended that the Government should establish an advisory group similar to DPTAC on improving access to the built environment for disabled people. In 2000 Ministers asked DPTAC to take on the additional role of advising the Government on ways of meeting the built environment needs of disabled people.

46. DPTAC set up a high-level Built Environment Working Group, with representation from a wide cross-section of disabled people, regulators, built environment interests and observers from Government. DPTAC also carried forward this new remit to advise on ways of meeting the built environment needs of disabled people through its Education and Training Working Group and its Personal Mobility and Local Authority Working Group.

47. The Built Environment Group's (BEG) aim has been to improve the quality of life of disabled people by promoting greater understanding and adoption of the principles of inclusive environments in the planning, design and management of the built environment and transport. Its objective has been to advise on improving access to the built environment for disabled people. It defines the built environment as buildings, plus their relationship with other buildings and the public realm - or open space - between them.

48. Work on our built environment remit has continued throughout the year. DPTAC has welcomed the Government's review of the planning system. We have worked closely with ODPM officials and other key stakeholders to ensure that inclusive design was embedded in the legislation, regulation and guidance in support of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.

49. In partnership with the Disability Rights Commission (now the Equality and Human Rights Commission), we have been heavily involved in the pre-consultation discussions for revisions to Planning Policy Statement 1 (formerly Planning Policy Guidance Note 1) which has now been published. This partnership also produced guidance on access statements which is available on their website (www.equalityhumanrights.com).

50. We have developed a model inclusion policy primarily for architects, which aims to provide an easy-to-use tool for professional practices to sign up to the promotion and adoption of inclusive design. It will assist the professionals, their clients and other colleagues in the industry to deliver on their commitment to inclusive design. The Housing Corporation have written the forward to the document. We launched the Commitment to Inclusive Design at a breakfast seminar on 16 March at the London Coliseum.

51. At the Sustainable Communities Summit the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister organised a master class entitled "Sustainable Communities as Inclusive Communities". It was chaired by DPTAC's Built Environment Group Chair, Katherine Phipps. The event focused on the issues of the importance of good design in planning for communities which are sustainable and accessible for all, and gave DPTAC the opportunity to publicise and promote the model policy statement.

52. At the end of March 2005 the Government decided to move responsibility for the built environment from DPTAC to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), to give the opportunity for CABE to extend its work on inclusive design, work with disabled people and place inclusive design at the heart of the environment, architecture and urban design.

53. We have amended our Strategy and our Work Programme to reflect this change in remit, though we will continue to advise on accessible transport infrastructure and buildings.

54. While DPTAC is disappointed to have to pass on responsibility in this area, we see the potential for CABE to exert more influence on professionals in the built environment to encourage them to incorporate the principles of inclusive design into all their projects and practices.

Education and Training

55. Education and professional development remain key tools in our drive to ensuring that both transport and the built environment fully address the needs of disabled people.

56. We have developed innovative material for primary school Design and Technology teachers showing how they can teach the principles of accessible design as part of the national curriculum schemes of work. The materials have been piloted by teachers and their children and will be launched in 2005. We are considering whether to follow this up with materials for secondary schools.

57. In partnership with Tripscope, the transport information charity for disabled people, we have developed a website for disabled people undertaking travel, based on the Door-to-Door printed version. We carried out user trials of a pilot version of the site at the Donington and Edinburgh Mobility Roadshows and launched the site last year. Door to Door now accounts for some 18% of traffic on the DPTAC site and is proving popular with disabled people and with transport and transport information providers, who are keen to be linked to the site.

Door to Door can be viewed at: www.dptac.gov.uk/door-to-door/.

58. We continue to regularly notify people who ask us of any changes to our website - www.dptac.gov.uk - and this has led to many repeat visits. We add new material such as responses to consultations to our website regularly. We have also posted details of material that we intend to publish, in a form agreed by the Information Commissioner. This pro-active approach to bringing our work to the attention of our stakeholders may be one reason why we have only received one Freedom of Information request to date. The website itself continues to be a popular resource, with 854,447 successful requests for pages through the year.

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