The Government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals to close hundreds of rail ticket offices, in a dramatic reversal.
This decision is vital for the accessibility of rail infrastructure and follows campaigns against the plans, which resulted in the biggest response to a public consultation in British history.
The importance of this to disabled sports fans was emphasised in the 2023 Level Playing Field Annual Fan Survey results, which were released earlier this week. The report showed year-on-year rises to ‘Inaccessible public transport’ as a barrier to disabled supporters attending live sport, with it making the top five most common barriers overall.
Had the proposals gone through, the consequence would have been further negative impact on the accessibility of public transport.
Transport For All led the campaign against the proposals and Level Playing Field was pleased to join more than 60 other organisations representing disabled people, to sign its letter condemning closures.
Level Playing Field also wrote directly to Government ministers and Rail Delivery Group officials, to emphasise the impact closures would have on disabled sports fans specifically, with disabled supporters’ associations across England and Wales co-signing the letters.
Chair of Level Playing Field, Tony Taylor, said: “News of the Governments U-turn on this was very pleasing to hear and an important victory for accessibility.
“We are grateful to our friends at Transport For All for their leadership on this campaign and to every disabled supporters’ association that joined us in resisting changes that would have repeatedly damaged the matchday experiences of so many supporters.
“This year’s survey results reemphasised how important accessible public transport can be to disabled fans, but these changes do not rectify the barriers they are already facing.
“Travel was also the key factor when looking at additional disability-related costs to attending live sport, which shows the need for a holistic approach across sport and wider society.
“The situation where this continues to grow as a barrier cannot continue and we are working with other stakeholders to bring about urgent change in this area.”
The responses from Government officials to Level Playing Field’s letters can be read here and the full results from the 2023 Level Playing Field Annual Fan Survey can be found here.