Chair of Level Playing Field, Tony Taylor, has written to The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, and Steve Montgomery, Chair of the Rail Delivery Group.
Level Playing Field are thankful to disabled supporters’ associations across England and Wales, who signed the charity’s letter, which challenges the proposed closures of train station ticket offices.
Other disabled and non-disabled sports fans can find advice on how to object to the proposals, on the Transport For All website.
Level Playing Field’s full letter can be read below:
On behalf of Level Playing Field, the leading charity for disabled sports fans across England and Wales, I would like to bring a matter of great concern to your attention.
The Government and Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG) planned closure of railway ticket offices in England will potentially have a hugely detrimental impact on the ability of many disabled people to attend live sporting events.
For some disabled people, attending a match day can be their only social interaction in the week. During the pandemic, we saw how removing sports from a person’s life had a detrimental impact on the mental and physical health of many fans.
Level Playing Field’s 2021 COVID fan survey revealed that 43% of the people who took part in the survey stated that the suspension of live sports had a significant impact on their mental health.
Over the past few weeks, we have received distressing reports and concerns from disabled sports fans nationwide, regarding these planned closures. I have provided a few excerpts for you below and urge you to hear directly from more of those who would be impacted.
“If proposed ticket office closures go ahead, we will probably never use a train ever again.
“Instead of making something that can already be difficult, better, they are choosing to make it impossible.” – Symone Ingram (Birmingham City fan)
“What happens if my train is cancelled, and I need to find a different route with assistance?
“On one occasion the line was blocked so I had to travel on a different route. The lift was out of action, and I had to cross the train line with assistance. Before I could cross safely, they had to ensure the signals were on red to stop trains coming/leaving the station.
“I then had to travel on to Wolverhampton changing trains at Crewe, where I was dependant on staff at Crewe station being aware I needed assistance as well as at Wolverhampton, due to the fact I was arriving on different trains than originally booked.
“Their assistance made it stress free and would have not been possible without manned stations.” – Alan Wigley (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
“Even now, if the booking office is closed there is no support for use of ticket machine or problems at barriers.
“There are many who cannot use internet, or the machines are inaccessible for. These will be excluded from going to live sports events,
give up using trains and become isolated.” – Peter Blay (Leyton Orient fan)
Railway ticket offices are vital in assisting disabled fans with their travel arrangements. These staff members provide a safe, accessible, reliable and inclusive environment where disabled sports fans can obtain information, purchase tickets, and receive assistance tailored to their specific access requirements.
By closing these offices, we risk undoing the progress made in promoting accessibility and disability independence within our society for over 10 million disabled people in England.
Disabled sports fans face numerous challenges when attending live sporting events and this would add further barriers in many cases. Nearly a quarter of disabled sports fans stated they used the train network when asked for their mode of transport in the Level Playing Field 2022 survey, and this new directive would only make these challenges worse. This would discourage many disabled sports fans from participating in attending live sporting events altogether, leading to reduced disability attendance.
Though these reforms are being flown under the banner of “modernisation”, they are anything but. A modern railway is one that works for everybody – one that is accessible, safe, and easy to navigate. To remove ticket offices would therefore be an actively regressive step, making vital infrastructure unusable for millions.
We suggest your Ministers engage in open and meaningful dialogue with disability rights organisations such as Transport For All, relevant stakeholders and the disabled people who use the train networks.
Such collaboration will enable a comprehensive understanding of the specific concerns and challenges faced by disabled people.
By working together, we can identify effective strategies to address these issues and ensure that the rights of disabled individuals are fully protected.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We would greatly appreciate any updates or further information regarding this issue.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Taylor
Chair – Level Playing Field
Signatures
West Ham United Disabled Supporters’ Association
Barrow Disabled Supporters’ Association
Saint Disabled Supporters’ Association
Birmingham City Disabled Supporters’ Association
AccessieBlues
Swans Disabled Supporters’ Association
Lincoln City Disabled Supporters’ Association
Wolves Disabled Supporters’ Association
Bristol Rovers Disabled Supporters’ Association
Watford Enables
SpursAbility
Fulham Disabled Supporters’ Association
Manchester City Disabled Supporters’ Association
Everton Disabled Supporters’ Association
MK Dons Supporters
Blackburn Rovers Independent Disabled Supporters Club
QPR Disabled Supporters’ Association
Sheffield United Disabled Supporters
Sheffield United Disabled And Carers Association
Nottingham Forest Disabled Supporters’ Association
Notts County Disabled Supporters’ Association
Cardiff City Disabled Supporters’ Association
Liverpool Disabled Supporters’ Association
Plymouth Argyle Disabled Supporters’ Association
Crystal Palace Disabled Supporters’ Association
Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association
Aston Villa Disabled Supporters’ Association
Tranmere Rovers Disabled Supporters’ Association
Brentford Disabled Supporters’ Association
Bournemouth AFC Disabled Supporters’ Association
Wrexham AFC Disabled Supporters’ Association
AFC Bournemouth Disabled Supporters’ Association
Oldham Athletic Disabled Inclusion and Diversity
Leeds United Disabled Organisation
Rotherham United Disabled Supporters’ Association
Hartlepool United Disabled Supporters’ Association
Leicester City Disabled Supporters’ Association
Arsenal Disabled Supporters’ Association