Skye & Lochalsh Access Panel

Minutes of meeting at Victoria Cottage, Portree

Wednesday 25^th October 2006

10.30 am

Present:

Joan Turkington, Mike Taylor, Peter Kinloch, Alex Crockett, John Holt, Liz MacLeod. 

In attendance:

Fiona Ferguson – Social Work Inspection Agency

Claire Fitzsimmons – Transport Planner, Halcrow Group Ltd

Keith Robertson – Access Development Officer, Scottish Disability Equality Forum 

Mike Taylor welcomed the three visitors to the meeting saying that Fiona Ferguson had just come along to observe as part of a Social Work Inspection. 

1. Apologies:

Una MacLeod, Julia Rudram, Patsy MacDonald, Nora Warby, Colin Hutchings, Mike Dunworth. 

2. Minutes:

These were approved by Joan and seconded by Alex as being a true record of the meeting. 

3. Matters Arising:
1. Disability toilet at Armadale Castle. Ongoing.
2. Portree Regeneration Plan – a reply was received from Highland

Council who suggested contacting Andy Butler the Regeneration Officer. Action: Liz to contact Andy Butler.

3. Finance – Peter had at last received the insurance documents and we are now covered. There had been nothing further on the idea to have a joint insurance plan with other members of the AoHDAP. Our finances are not very sound and we have had to ask the Community Care Forum to hold off the invoice for Liz’s wages until the funding from Highland Council has been received.
4. Hand held computer – Julia had not come up with a price but an approximate price of £600 for computer and software will be included in our spending plan.
5. Portree toilets - Highland Council replied to say that a bid for funding the refurbishment had been successful and they are waiting for approval of tenders before work commences.
6. Portree Chemist shop door – Letter written and awaiting a reply. A phone call was received after the meeting from Mr MacLeod to say that he is aware of the problem and is trying to find the most appropriate way of addressing the issue.
7. Tigh na Drochaid dropped kerb – Liz has received a reply from Highland Council saying that they have contacted the contractors who will reinstate the dropped kerb.
8. Armadale Hotel – Action: Julia to contact the owner with her report.
9. Broadford Hotel – ongoing, Liz has written and is awaiting a reply.
10. Broadford toilets – Liz has written to Highland Council and has received a reply stating that they are submitting a bid for monies for the refurbishment and it will be completed once the funding has been agreed.
11. Edinbane Community Garden – nothing further heard.
12. SDEF funding – prices received for laptop and presentation equipment – these will be included in our list of future purchases.
13. Portree Gymnasium – Liz had been to the premises and acquired details of the business involved and also been informed that the Hotel are making one of their rooms disabled friendly. Action: Liz to write letters to businesses re stairway.
14. Ayr Access Panel – a handbook of Ayr’s disabled facilities had been received at the office and it was suggested that we write to them saying how well we thought it had been compiled. It was also agreed that we take another look at our own website and try and improve it in line with this book. Action: Liz to write to Ayr Access Panel.

 

4. Trunk Road Network:

Claire Fitzsimmons explained that the Disability Equality Duty (DED) for the public sector comes into effect on 4th December 2006. Transport Scotland is a Scottish Executive agency and one of their key responsibilities is to operate, construct and maintain the trunk road network.  Halcrow have been commissioned by Transport Scotland to conduct a study of the trunk road network in order to develop a Disability Equality Scheme (DES) and action plan.  The involvement of disabled people is of the utmost importance to this and their involvement will be an ongoing process. She had come along to the meeting to involve disabled people in the preparation of the DES and get their views on the trunk roads and to identify any issues or barriers that they have in regard to using them.  This could be in many respects including being a car driver, a car passenger, using pedestrian crossings on trunk roads which pass through towns and villages, service station areas, emergency telephones, access for wheelchair users and signage. 

As a group we brought up several local issues:-

• Traffic lights at Kyle – these give little time for people crossing and are also a problem for car drivers turning right onto the A87
• Deep trenches and no pathway on the approach to Kyle on the A87
• Width of trunk road throughout the A87 on the Island
• Drainage on A87, particularly from Sligachan to Portree
• Lack of dropped kerbs in Portree, Broadford and Auchtertyre
• Lack of drainage where there are dropped kerbs
• The need for a crossing at the Portree Sorting Office on Dunvegan Road
• Danger for passengers boarding or alighting at the Sligachan bus stop for outgoing journeys
• The unsuitable height of motorway telephones

 

Claire finished by handing out copies of a questionnaire and said that she hoped to be able to attend a future meeting as part of the ongoing involvement. 

5. Keith Robertson:

Keith said that there are now 50+ Access Panels and he hopes that we will end up with between 70 and 80 and his job is to give support and advice. SDEF are looking at nationally recognised certificates for panels to issue and a survey form is currently being worked on by a senior development officer from Perth and Kinross. It was decided that if a business meets 80% of the criteria then they will be issued with a certificate. 

The conference is to be held on 14^th February at Falkirk and travelling expenses can be claimed from SDEF. 

SDEF are trying to prepare a list of solicitors who specialise in Human Rights, and are willing to work in outlying areas of Scotland, under the Legal Aid system for future cases that may be brought under the Disability Equality Legislation. 

6. AOB:

Alex brought up the problem with people parking at the Bank of Scotland in Kyle. Liz has already written about this but will write again to Highland Council 

7. Next Meetings:

Wednesday November 22^nd at Victoria Cottage at 10.30 a.m.

Please note that this is a change from the original date.