Thomas Chambers
The Billy Ranch
Knocknageha
Newport
Mayo
Submission on Smarter Travel for Westport
Monday, October 26, 2009
Dear Ms. Moore,
I would like to stress how important it is that the disabled be kept informed and consulted in relation to all works affecting us. Our motto is “Nothing about us, without us!”
I welcome this public submission process and I would like to make the following points in relation to the project.
Ensure all developments take into account all potential users including youths, schoolchildren, working people, families, elderly people and disabled people
Lower speed limits in the town to 30k mph to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Lower speed limits on the approach roads to the town to 50kmph to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Erect signage throughout the town raising awareness of other non-motor road users
Hold educational workshops and campaigns informing motorists that they must share the road with pedestrians and cyclists and safety measures to do so
Lobby the driving test centres to incorporate 'Sharing the Road with non-motor users' into their test
Build a proper bus terminal perhaps in the Mill St. / High St. car park and connect it to the Train station via the Railway line walk.
Lobby for commuter friendly Bus Eireann times
Lobby for the commuter train to run from Westport to Castlebar to Claremorris
Improved bus links with Knock Airport.
Lobby for improved bicycle transport on all public transport systems
Erect sheltered bicycle racks at the Railway and Bus stop
Develop rural transport schemes giving people that live in the countryside the opportunity to leave their car at home.
Develop a shuttle bus service from Westport town to the Quay
Extend footpaths to all urban areas so that at least all houses within the designated urban area can walk safely to town
Improve the Murrisk cycle way to ensure it is used properly.
Improve cycle rack in Murrisk car park
Ensure safe walking and cycle paths exist to all schools
Ensure safe road crossings exist close to all schools (note a pedestrian crossing should be erected on the Castlebar road allowing students to cross to the Gaelscoil and to Rice College)
Tom Chambers
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Airport charges - new rules could mean cheaper flights
Airport charges - new rules could mean cheaper flights
Transport - 21-10-2008 - 17:10
Airports and their charges: 69 airports could be affected©BELGA_MAXPPP_GERARD LAUNET
Airport charges are one of the hidden costs of flying and usually they are passed on from airlines to passengers. Wednesday evening sees MEPs debate whether to support a proposed directive which aims to set common rules for how charges are calculated. It could affect Europe's biggest airports and help introduce more competition between them.
Its supporters also believe it could lead to fairer and clearer ticket pricing. This debate - due to be held in Strasbourg - can be seen live on Wednesday evening from 9pm.
At present airport charges are invariably passed on to passengers. The final price for flyers can include charges to cover air passenger duty, local airport taxes, passenger service charges, fuel costs and security and insurance costs.
MEPs on the all-party Transport Committee have already indicated their backing for the directive. The drafted report indicates that the committee would like the directive applied to the largest airports in each country and those who have over 5 million passengers a year. At present this would affect 69 airports including ones such as Amsterdam and Palma de Mallorca.
MEPs would also like to see independent bodies set up to adjudicate disputes between airports over fees.
"Passengers will be protected from exorbitant charges"
The man who drafted the report is German Socialist Ulrich Stockmann. He told us that: "Passengers will be protected from exorbitant charges for landing and takeoff ... charges can also be differentiated according to environmental criteria such as aircraft noise which will also produce benefits for the citizen."
Air charges can include..
• Local airport taxes
• Fuel costs
• Security costs
• Passenger service charges
At the moment, large airports are able to dictate to individual airlines the charges they have to pay for the use of the airport infrastructure. At present airlines do not have a real choice to move away from the big airports.
Charges for disabled excluded
Such charges need not necessarily bear a direct relation to the quality of the services provided. In practice, airlines are forced to pay whatever charges the airport has determined and will usually pass these costs on to the passenger. Charges for disabled and other people who have mobility problems will be excluded from the scope of the directive. The report also calls for incentives for new routes to outlying regions of Europe. The hope is that this will help them access both people and trade. Europe's Transport Ministers meeting in the Council have already made a commitment to accept a further series of parliamentary amendments if tabled at this the second reading.
Transport - 21-10-2008 - 17:10
Airports and their charges: 69 airports could be affected©BELGA_MAXPPP_GERARD LAUNET
Airport charges are one of the hidden costs of flying and usually they are passed on from airlines to passengers. Wednesday evening sees MEPs debate whether to support a proposed directive which aims to set common rules for how charges are calculated. It could affect Europe's biggest airports and help introduce more competition between them.
Its supporters also believe it could lead to fairer and clearer ticket pricing. This debate - due to be held in Strasbourg - can be seen live on Wednesday evening from 9pm.
At present airport charges are invariably passed on to passengers. The final price for flyers can include charges to cover air passenger duty, local airport taxes, passenger service charges, fuel costs and security and insurance costs.
MEPs on the all-party Transport Committee have already indicated their backing for the directive. The drafted report indicates that the committee would like the directive applied to the largest airports in each country and those who have over 5 million passengers a year. At present this would affect 69 airports including ones such as Amsterdam and Palma de Mallorca.
MEPs would also like to see independent bodies set up to adjudicate disputes between airports over fees.
"Passengers will be protected from exorbitant charges"
The man who drafted the report is German Socialist Ulrich Stockmann. He told us that: "Passengers will be protected from exorbitant charges for landing and takeoff ... charges can also be differentiated according to environmental criteria such as aircraft noise which will also produce benefits for the citizen."
Air charges can include..
• Local airport taxes
• Fuel costs
• Security costs
• Passenger service charges
At the moment, large airports are able to dictate to individual airlines the charges they have to pay for the use of the airport infrastructure. At present airlines do not have a real choice to move away from the big airports.
Charges for disabled excluded
Such charges need not necessarily bear a direct relation to the quality of the services provided. In practice, airlines are forced to pay whatever charges the airport has determined and will usually pass these costs on to the passenger. Charges for disabled and other people who have mobility problems will be excluded from the scope of the directive. The report also calls for incentives for new routes to outlying regions of Europe. The hope is that this will help them access both people and trade. Europe's Transport Ministers meeting in the Council have already made a commitment to accept a further series of parliamentary amendments if tabled at this the second reading.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Ireland’s first tourist kiosk launched in Westport 5/5/2009
8th October 2009
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you to draw your attention to the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay.
The idea of an out-of-hours facility for visitors is a fantastic one which ensures that Westport does not miss out on potential tourism and makes staying in Westport easier than ever.
However there is an even greater potential for towns like Westport in the possibility of attracting an un-targeted 10% of the population who have a disability. By making Westport a disability-friendly tourism town there is a great potential for increased tourism even in this recession.
But first we need to work on making access to the town a priority and importantly we need to make the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay accessible.
Unfortunately there is no ramp adjacent to the Kiosk making it inaccessible for those of us in wheelchairs and those with mobility problems such as some senior citizens. It is over 100 metres to the nearest ramp and this cannot be called accessible.
Also the Kiosk needs some internal adjustments as the phone cannot be comfortably be used from a wheelchair, and there is no provision of a flip down seat for others. There is also a lack of tactile paving and it is not colour coded to make it easier for the visually impaired. To benefit visually impaired people, a telephone should be selected which have well lit keyboards, large embossed or raised numerals that contract in colour and luminance.
A tactile telephone symbol should be placed outside an accessible telephone kiosk. Instructions for using telephone should be clear and displayed in a large easy to read typeface. Induction couples should be fitted to enable people with hearing aids to use them. The telephone should be identified by the appropriate symbol adjacent to the telephone or outside the kiosk. Preferably, telephones for use by disabled people should be located to enable wheelchair users to approach and use the phone from the front and the side. If it it raining it is imposable to use the phone the front or side as there is no protection from the rain unlike the location of the able-bodied phone and a knee hole is needed at least 500mm deep to enter from the front.
A fold down seat 450mm-50mm high or a perch seat 650mm-800mm high should be provided for the convenience of ambulant people. Politicians and Communities who strive to make environment accessible to all are demonstrating their desire to offer the population a good quality of life and provide people their opportunities to develop, both social and personally. It should also be remembered that it is the Politicians who are responsible for public spending. In this respect, making environment accessible has a direct effect on public spending. But it is a great start and with a bit of work it could be the first step in a Westport which welcomes tourists from all over the world to a disability-friendly Westport.
Finally, proper accessibility makes towns more attractive for the people who live in them and for potential visitors (tourism) I have followed the discussions about accessibility since the late eighties, many enthusiastic and passionate things have been said and written. The fact remains that we still cannot claim that the town of Westport is accessible for all. Representatives of those in our community with issues such as mobility and access are only too delighted to work with councils and organisations in making our community accessible for all. We are entitled to be consulted and our motto is “Nothing about us, without us!”
Sincerely Yours
Thomas Chambers
Access Campaigner
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you to draw your attention to the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay.
The idea of an out-of-hours facility for visitors is a fantastic one which ensures that Westport does not miss out on potential tourism and makes staying in Westport easier than ever.
However there is an even greater potential for towns like Westport in the possibility of attracting an un-targeted 10% of the population who have a disability. By making Westport a disability-friendly tourism town there is a great potential for increased tourism even in this recession.
But first we need to work on making access to the town a priority and importantly we need to make the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay accessible.
Unfortunately there is no ramp adjacent to the Kiosk making it inaccessible for those of us in wheelchairs and those with mobility problems such as some senior citizens. It is over 100 metres to the nearest ramp and this cannot be called accessible.
Also the Kiosk needs some internal adjustments as the phone cannot be comfortably be used from a wheelchair, and there is no provision of a flip down seat for others. There is also a lack of tactile paving and it is not colour coded to make it easier for the visually impaired. To benefit visually impaired people, a telephone should be selected which have well lit keyboards, large embossed or raised numerals that contract in colour and luminance.
A tactile telephone symbol should be placed outside an accessible telephone kiosk. Instructions for using telephone should be clear and displayed in a large easy to read typeface. Induction couples should be fitted to enable people with hearing aids to use them. The telephone should be identified by the appropriate symbol adjacent to the telephone or outside the kiosk. Preferably, telephones for use by disabled people should be located to enable wheelchair users to approach and use the phone from the front and the side. If it it raining it is imposable to use the phone the front or side as there is no protection from the rain unlike the location of the able-bodied phone and a knee hole is needed at least 500mm deep to enter from the front.
A fold down seat 450mm-50mm high or a perch seat 650mm-800mm high should be provided for the convenience of ambulant people. Politicians and Communities who strive to make environment accessible to all are demonstrating their desire to offer the population a good quality of life and provide people their opportunities to develop, both social and personally. It should also be remembered that it is the Politicians who are responsible for public spending. In this respect, making environment accessible has a direct effect on public spending. But it is a great start and with a bit of work it could be the first step in a Westport which welcomes tourists from all over the world to a disability-friendly Westport.
Finally, proper accessibility makes towns more attractive for the people who live in them and for potential visitors (tourism) I have followed the discussions about accessibility since the late eighties, many enthusiastic and passionate things have been said and written. The fact remains that we still cannot claim that the town of Westport is accessible for all. Representatives of those in our community with issues such as mobility and access are only too delighted to work with councils and organisations in making our community accessible for all. We are entitled to be consulted and our motto is “Nothing about us, without us!”
Sincerely Yours
Thomas Chambers
Access Campaigner
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo
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