SPELTHORNE COMMITTEE FOR ACCESS NOWSCAN'S HOME PAGE
Spelthorne Committee for Access Now (SCAN) is an Independent Group of local Volunteers who live in the Borough of Spelthorne.There are links to certain pages on the left side of these pages. If you have any comments about the pages or the information they contain please email the web manager
DISABLED MOTORING UK - PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 20TH, 2011 - CHANGES TO THE MOTABILITY SCHEME
Disabled Motoring UK was saddened to hear the announcement from Motability in October that significant changes will be made to the Motability scheme.
Although these changes are being made to ensure the scheme is protected in years to come there will be less choice for customers in the type of car they can choose."
When making the announcement Motability Chairman Lord Sterling said: "Despite meeting the mobility needs of disabled people for over 33 years, it is very important that we are not complacent. We must continuously strive for excellence by examining and refining all aspects of the Scheme. During 2011, we have reviewed a number of issues including the range of cars available on the Scheme and the clarity of our policies on how the cars are used and by whom."
The changes announced include:
• Limiting the range of vehicles available to cars with an Advance Payment of £2,000 or less, approximating to a Recommended Retail Price limit of circa £25,000.
The changes to car selection take place immediately, although Motability will honour all existing orders and commitments, changes will be fully implemented in December 2011. (The limit does NOT apply to Wheelchair Accessible vehicles - WAV's)
• Limiting the nominated drivers to those who live within 5 miles of the customer in order to minimise the risk of the car being used other than for the benefit of the disabled person
• Piloting new vehicle technologies to monitor how cars are used where the greatest risk of abuse is perceived.
• Requiring a Statement of Responsibilities to be signed at the beginning of each lease by the customer and nominated drivers together with the supplying motor dealer to ensure that the key responsibilities of each party have been communicated and are clearly understood.
• No longer accepting nominated drivers under the age of 21 on the Scheme from January 2012, unless they reside with the disabled customer.
• Restricting young drivers under the age of 25 to cars in ABI Insurance Group 16 or lower which also have a power output of 115 BHP or less.
Helen Dolphin, Disabled Motoring UK Director of Policy and Campaigns said: "With so many negative stories in the press it was inevitable that Motability was going to have to make some changes to the scheme. Although it is disappointing that these changes will mean disabled people will have less choice, we know that the longevity of the scheme is the most important thing. The scheme has been running for over 30 years and has helped numerous disabled people to be mobile. We hope that these changes will stop some of the negative press reports and instead the enormous benefits this scheme provides to seriously disabled people will be the focus in the future."
More information on Motability site http://www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm?type=NI&ObjectId=2779
Example of negative headlines in national press recently http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2005576/BMWs-thousands-friends-relatives-disabled-use-luxury-Motability-cars.html
DIGITAL SWITCHOVER FOR LONDON AREA -CRYSTAL PALACE TRANSMITTER
TV across the UK is going digital. The existing analogue TV signal will be switched off and replaced with a new, stronger digital TV signal.
Switchover is happening so that Freeview services (digital TV through an aerial) can be extended to people who can't currently get them, including those who receive their signal from a relay transmitter. It also allows new services, such as High Definition channels, to become more widely available .
The Crystal Palace transmitter group, made up of the main transmitter and its local relays, serves Greater London and parts of the home counties.
The transmitter switches in two stages on 4 April and 18 April to give people the chance to check their equipment. It is important your TV is converted by stage one .
If you have: Freeview, BT Vision, or Top Up TV You will need to re-tune your digital TV or box or you will lose TV channels at switchover.
If you have Sky TV, Freesat from Sky,freesat or Virgin Media on all your TVs you won't need to do anything.
If you're 75 and over, or eligible disabled
Call the Switchover Help Scheme, they can provide everything you need to keep watching your TV.
• The analogue BBC Two signal is switched off permanently
• At the same time, BBC digital channels, including BBC Two, extend to reach all areas
• Two weeks after stage one, the remaining analogue channels are switched off permanently
• The remaining digital channels become available in all areas.
To find out where and when an event is taking place, visit digitaluk.co.uk/londonevents. Call the UK advice line on 08456 50 50 50* ( * Calls are free for BT customers within inclusive calling plans. Call charges from other providers may vary. The standard business hours for Digital UK's contact centre are 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on a Saturday. Sunday closed. Opening hours will be extended during switchover in each area. Digital UK, PO Box 26833, Kirkcaldy KY2 9AG). Alternatively visit your local electrical retailer.
DISABILITY GROUPS MERGE TO FORM LARGEST USER-LED CHARITY
Royal Association for Disability Rights (Radar - formerly Royal Association for Disability Rehabilitation), The National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL), and Disability Alliance (DA)
are to merge on 1 January 2012 to form the country's largest disability organisation led by disabled people themselves.
Radar chief executive Liz Sayce is due to take the helm of the new organisation which will be known as Disability Rights UK.
She says:"It is fantastic that the members of the three organisations have voted overwhelmingly in favour of coming together to create the largest pan-disability national organisation led by disabled people, which will enable many more disabled people to have a voice.”
The current charities have over 600 member organisations across the UK as well as over 500 individual disabled people as members. Disability Rights UK will be well placed to represent the views of all disabled people across a range of different impairment groups and health conditions.
The new organisation will offer a range of support for disabled people, education providers, employers, welfare rights advisors, local and national government, journalists and parliamentarians.RADAR PEOPLE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2010
On 29th November 2010, SCAN Member Wycliffe Noble received a RADAR Person of the Year Award from Dame Tanni Grey-Thomson.
The Citation read: “For nearly 40 years Wycliffe has promoted access for disabled people. In the early 1960’s he was one of the first architects to take on disability access issues, and has had an immeasurable influence on the accessibility of modern Britain. He has chaired the British Standards Institution committees relating to access for disabled people and has been a leading player in the International Technical Aids and Access Commission established by Rehabilitation International. This nomination recognises the immense work and dedication given to the cause of equal access of this unsung hero throughout the last five decades.”
Congratulations Wycliffe – and many thanks for your advice and help with local accessibility issues.
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON DISABILITY BENEFIT REFORM
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now published its response to the 2010 consultation on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reforms.
The government maintains its commitment to introduce the replacement benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for working age claimants of the DLA in 2013. It will have two components - a daily living and a mobility component and each will have two rates, a standard and an enhanced rate although no decision has yet been made about the monetary value of the different rates. However both components should be no less than the higher rate of DLA mobility and highest rate of DLA care components.
There has still not been clarification of what will happen for recipients of DLA who will be 65 or over when the new benefit is due to be introduced.
Many people who responded to the government’s consultation commented on the importance of the Motability scheme. In their response DWP say they will work closely with Motability under the reformed system, but they are still considering how PIP will provide access to the Motability scheme.
The government will not now introduce the proposal to cease payment of the DLA mobility component for people in residential care as planned in October 2012. They say meeting the mobility needs of people in residential care will now be considered as part of the wider reform of DLA as they are committed to ensuring that residents of care homes are able to get out and about, and is therefore looking to remove overlaps in funding, not mobility.
The real impact of the reforms will not be known until the government releases the details on the new assessment process and eligibility for the new PIP.
To read the government’s response in full visit;www.dwp.gov.uk
The Web Manager thanks the following for providing links to SCAN's web site on their own sites.
Spelthorne Borough Council 
Surrey Adult Linked Disability Registers
. GoodAccessUK.co.uk
GoodAccessGuide.co.uk.
Staines Web local on-line guide to the Staines Area
Support SCAN for free when shopping online with over 600 popular retailers, including Amazon, M&S, John Lewis, Debenhams, HMV and many more.
The following link will allow you to register with SCAN as your chosen group. www.easyfundraising.org.uk/spelthorneaccessnow.
There is also a search facility
provided on a sister site
Please help SCAN to make a difference in the local community.
Pavement Obstructions and Access Issues
SCAN members liaise with the Surrey County Council's Highways department about the obstruction of pavements and maintenance issues.
Do you have problems with traders obstructing the pavement in your area, or other problems such as badly parked vehicles or overhanging trees,
Please let us know about any of the above or if you have any problems accessing restaurants or shops. SCAN members may be able to offer advice to the owner/manager on your behalf to seek a resolution.
We have produced Access Guide for Staines that was issued in 2004, but it is an ongoing project, so we need to know about any changes or additional information (praising or shaming) about any of the premises mentioned in the Guide or on the web site. Please Contact Us
What We Do
All members have an interest in accessibility issues for the disabled, some have physical or sensory
impairments themselves. Take a look at the page Who We are to
find out how and when our group was formed. We also produce a quarterly newsletter that contains updates on local forumsand what's happening with highway and road works that may affect you if you
have a disability.
Where We Are
Much of Spelthorne is situated on the
banks of the River Thames and inludes the towns of Ashford, Shepperton, Staines
and Sunbury. Staines is about 20 miles from central London. Runnymede is only a
few miles away and Windsor is only about 15 minutes away by train or car.
London's Heathrow Airport is also close by.
Staines can be reached by South West Train services from
London Waterloo to Guildford, Reading Windsor & Eton (approx. 40 minutes)
or via the M25/A30 - Junction 13.
Action for Carers and Employment (ACE)
Carer's Support Spelthorne
Community Forums - Spelthorne
Runnymede Short Term Breaks
Spelthorne Crossroads
If not, visit the Community Groups page to find out more.
Are you aware of these Archived News Items?
Accessible Trains by 2025 and Accessible Taxis by 2020
Access for Disabled People to Arts Premises - New Book Release
BayWatch Campaign –'There's No Excuse for Parking Abuse'
Directory Enquiry Service 195 unchanged
Is There An Accessible Loo (ITAAL)
National Accessible Scheme for UK Tourism
New 'Emergency Alert' Pilot Scheme for Carers in Spelthorne - www.carersnet.org.uk
Possible Government review of insurance cover for mobility vehicles.
Royal Association For Disability Rights (Radar) Publication Leisure Time - Days Out
Shaping the Future of Your Local Health Services
The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring - A Book by Hugh Marriott
Shaping the Future of Your Local Health Services
VAT Relief on New Car Purchases for Wheelchair Users
