Campaign success as Mobility Scheme is saved
Transport for All
Redbridge Transport Action Group celebrated as the council announced that they would not be closing Redbridge Mobility Scheme...
Redbridge Transport Action Group celebrated as the council announced that they would not be closing Redbridge Mobility Scheme, a door to door scheme providing journeys to over 4,000 older and disabled transport users in the borough.
The announcement followed a powerful campaign which brought together carers; disabled people and pensioners. People and groups across the borough contacted Cllr Mark Santos, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, and told him how the scheme closure would affect their lives.
In addition, Mobility Scheme members attended a meeting of the Health and Social Care Committee and raised their concerns; and over twenty people attended the Redbridge Cabinet Meeting. Fifteen people spoke emotionally at the meeting about their fears about scheme closure, and about the shortcomings of the other door-to-door services in the borough (Taxicard and Dial A Ride).
Two days after the meeting, Redbridge Council made an official statement that they would be withdrawing the proposal to close Redbridge Mobility Scheme. Leader of the Council Cllr Jas Athwal said: “The Redbridge Mobility Card Scheme is clearly a vital and well used resource and after consideration, we feel it’s right to withdraw this proposal as it currently stands. The Cabinet will now look at other alternatives to find this saving and will also review the Mobility Card Scheme in light of the consultation undertaken. There will be full consultation on any revised scheme.“
Relief
A meeting of the Redbridge Transport Action Group, initially planned to voice our opposition to the proposed closure, turned into a celebration at our campaign success. Harvey Sharpe, whose daughter uses the scheme to get to college, said the decision meant ‘one less worry’ for him and added, “What a relief for me and my family“.
Cllr Mark Santos told us “The thanks is to you for raising your voices. It was really powerful“.
He also agreed to review the Taxicard scheme, and look into whether Redbridge could re-instate the double swipe, which allows Taxicard members to use two of their allocated journeys at once to travel further.
Mobility scheme members had pointed out that the council had not consulted properly with scheme users, many of whom were unaware of the planned closure until they read about it in the local newspaper, or heard about it from Transport for All or another local group. Users praised the Mobility Scheme highly, and in particular, its helpful drivers. Albert Sparkes, an older person, said “I have had two lots of cancer removed from my bladder, and now have cancer of the prostate. My wife has Alzheimer’s and our ailments do not allow us to use public transport. The mobility scheme gives us the independence we need“.
