Annual Report 1999

Introduction

I was very privileged and excited to be invited to serve as Chair of DPTAC at a time when transport moved rapidly up the political agenda. There are potentially great opportunities for disabled people but there is still a great deal to do.

DPTAC advises Government on key transport issues in order to promote the transport needs of all disabled people. The challenge for us is to ensure that, where appropriate, our advice to Government also reaches designers, planners and managers responsible for providing transport services, vehicles and infrastructure at local level.

We welcomed the European Transport Ministers' Charter on Accessible Transport signed in May 1999. On the basis of the Charter, we recommend that all investment on transport vehicles and transport infrastructure should be conditional on full access for all disabled people. We plan to advise on key investment proposals as they come up for negotiation. e.g. rail franchises and London Underground PPPs.

One of the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force in December 1999 was that existing trains should become compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We hope Ministers respond positively to this recommendation.

The work of the Committee relies on contributions from many people. I am very grateful to my working group chairmen and to members of DPTAC and working groups for their hard work as well as the invaluable secretariat support given to DPTAC from Ann Frye and her team in the DETR's Mobility Unit. I should also like to record my thanks to my predecessor, Bob Taylor OBE DL and all former members of the Committee.

Jane Wilmot OBE, DPTAC Chair

Published 11 December 2000

Top of page