YP Letters: Shameful indignity that must be addressed

BEFORE Christmas, British Polio Ambassador and Paralympian, Anne Wafula-Strike MBE, was forced to wet herself on a train, with no disabled toilet available. The Rail Minister, Paul Maynard, pledged that no other disabled rail user would have to endure such a distressing and humiliating experience. Yet I am appalled to hear that in the last few days wheelchair user Christopher Stapleton has indeed had the same experience.

However, Christopher had booked his train ticket six weeks ahead, so the train company were aware they would have a wheelchair user on board. With the disabled toilet out of order and the aisles in the carriages being too narrow to fit a wheelchair in, Christopher was left with no choice but to wet himself. How many more people have had similar experiences but are not quite as forthright in speaking out?

With train operating companies achieving eye-watering profits, one can conclude that the ‘disabled market’ is not their target. However 72 per cent of the population think more should be done on accessibility. When ethics, legislation and public opinion are in such harmony, there appears to be no logical reason why this problem is not fixed as a matter of urgency. Mr Maynard?