Council 'trying to forget some disabled need cars'

PLANS to make Bristol better for disabled people have been criticised for failing to consider those who have no choice but to use a car.

- ADAM POSTANS Local Democracy Reporter

Councillors voted unanimously by 57-0 last October for a motion to improve how accessible the city is.

A meeting of the full council was told disabled people faced barriers getting around.

Many of the suggestions focused on transport, such as exploring whether to extend the Diamond bus pass, valid only from 9am, to 24 hours and investigating whether to allow disabled drivers through bus gates.

Bristol City Council's transport and connectivity committee is doing this work, but an update on the broader policies, including giving people with disabilities more of a say in the authority's decisions, was given to the strategy and resources committee this week.

The progress was criticised by Cllr John Goulandris (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) for excluding the needs of disabled motorists.

He told the meeting: "It was a great motion and if we could achieve it, we would all be very happy.