New fund to improve disabled access on ferries

New fund to improve disabled access on ferries 20/8/14

A new £500,000 fund has been launched to improve disabled access on ferries and ports Transport Minister Keith Brown has announced.

The Ferries Accessibility Fund will be open to bids from the public and private sector.

It aims to make improvements to existing vessels and harbours that go beyond legal standards set for accessibility.

Awards will be made on a match-funding basis, which means that operators bidding for money will be expected to put up an equal amount of money.

The fund will initially be open to applications until the end of November 2014, with the successful applicants being announced in January 2015. Further calls will be issued in 2015.

Keith Brown said: “The funding could help a wide range of proposals, from adapting existing ships and harbours to make it easier and safer for people with reduced mobility to embark and disembark, to giving staff training in disability awareness and customer service.

“By making awards on a match-funding basis, it means up to £1 million could be spent on accessibility improvements across the ferry network.

“Ultimately, I want this funding to help make improvements that address the needs of passengers and encourage more people to use Scotland’s ferry services.”

Anne Maclean, convenor of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) said that “making sometimes small changes which can make the Ferry journey much more accessible, comfortable and enjoyable for the disabled traveller."