Gosport Access Group and Disability Forum - GAGDF

BBC 1. D-Day 80: We Will Remember Them (audio described).
Thursday 06 June 2024 at 09:00.
Red Button HD & Red Button One
Duration:1 hour, 44 minutes
More details of event content on link below.

BBC One - D-Day 80, Audio Described: D-Day 80: We Will Remember Them Live coverage of D-Day commemorations for the blind and partially sighted.

Coastline, the Gosport Borough Council quarterly newsletter, which used to be delivered in print to everyone's home, has only been available online for last couple of years.

Did you previously read it as a printed newsletter?
Do you know that its only online now?
If so, do you access Coastline online regularly?
If not, why not?

What are the Pro's and Con's for you of print over webpage info?
What could make it easier for you to access this type of local news?

May 2024 edition on link. Also, back editions and a sign-up for future e-copies to your email.

Coastline: D-Day events; Gosport in Bloom opens; Local election results; Citizen of the Year; and more Coastline: D-Day events; Gosport in Bloom opens; Local election results; Citizen of the Year; and more Gosport Borough Council sent this bulletin at 22-05-2024 01:30 PM BST View as webpage Share May 2024 Gosport to commemorate D-Day heroes on 80th anniversary Gosport will commemorate D-Day 80 with a...

Eurostar reverses wheelchair policy that left user stranded, after Observer campaign Passengers were left abandoned and humiliated after operator banned staff from providing assistance

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day

GAAD Thursday, May 16, 2024, help us celebrate the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.

New timetables for the 5, X4 and X5 are now available on the First website

From 26th May, all journeys on the X4 and X5 will run from Southampton through Fareham to Portsmouth.

The daytime frequencies and routes between Southampton and Fareham will be similar to now, but the two routes combined will double the frequency between Fareham and Portsmouth.
There will be additional evening services between Fareham and Portsmouth that don't exist now plus slightly later services between Fareham and Southampton.

From the same date, there will be a separate service between Fareham and Gosport via Stubbington and Lee which will be numbered the 5 but will no longer run to / from Southampton (which should improve reliability, especially on Saturday afternoons which is currently shockingly poor).

The 5 will run every 30 minutes Mondays to Saturdays (which is a vast improvement on now) until the last trips just after 7pm (which is an hour later than now).

Timetables %%TIMETABLES%%

It’s A Theatre Thing will run for two weeks from July 15 at St Vincent College’s purpose-built theatre in its School of Personalised Learning, which specialises in working with young people with additional needs.

Gosport theatre summer school will give SEN performers a chance to shine on stage

New bus timetables for the E1 / E2, 9 / 9A and F1 starting on the 5th of May are now available online.

Essentially, on Monday to Saturday there will be 3 extra trips on the Eclipse E1 / E2 from Fareham (with the last just before midnight), and 3 extra trips from Gosport (with the last at 00:20, terminating at Hoeford depot).

Because the bus road closes at 23:15, these late trips will run between Brockhurst, Hoeford and Fareham via the A32 (ie past Hoeford depot), then presumably do a clockwise loop via Western Way to Station Roundabout (where it will start picking up passengers going towards Gosport), then West St. and Fareham bus station.

On Monday to Saturday evenings, the 9 will run every 30 minutes until just after 23:00 or so. Because the bus road closes at 23:15, the last trips will run between Wych Lane and Hoeford / Fareham via the A32, not serving the railway station.
For some reason this includes the 23:00 from Fareham, which shouldn't be affected by the closure at 23:15?

And the F1 will now extend to Sainsbury's at Broadcut (Wallington).

We are disappointed that connections with the evening ferry arrivals from Portsmouth will remain poor - eg the extra journeys on the 9 will be pulling off the stand just as the ferry arrives, and those taking the midnight ferry will have about 13 minutes to wait for the last Eclipse at 00:20.

There appear to be little or no other material changes to frequency at any other times (which are currently running at between 47% and 75% of pre-Covid levels), including the appalling Sunday evening service.

We are also disappointed that not only is the wheelchair space on the new electric buses 130mm SHORTER than on other current vehicles (causing problems for users of Class 2 mobility scooters in particular), but the handrails have VERY POOR CONTRAST (making them difficult to see for passengers with low vision).

Timetables %%TIMETABLES%%

There are already a number of 'bus stop bypasses' in Southampton and Portsmouth, as well as in London, Brighton and elsewhere.

Research into ‘bus stop bypasses’ released A research report published today explores the effects of ‘bus stop bypasses’ - and other arrangements involving a bus stop and cycle track - on pedestrians.

More changes to local services in Fareham and Gosport area from May - and this time it's GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The E1 / E2 will run until just after midnight

The 9 / 9A will run until 11pm (currently finishes around 7pm)

The X5 will be renumbered 5 and on Mondays to Saturdays will have its frequency increased to run every 30 minutes between Gosport, Lee, Stubbington and Fareham (currently runs about every 43 minutes and hourly on Saturdays)

There will be evening services on the X4 (currently finishes around 7pm)

The F1 will serve the Sainsbury's at Wallington

We'll share more details when we get them

🚏🚌 Three bus companies are introducing more day and evening services on some of their commercially operated routes across Hampshire.

We've allocated £4.2million Government funding – in line with the Department for Transport's direction that the majority should be used to protect existing commercial services (that might otherwise see reduced timetables) and to fund more frequent services.

See the full article for details of the services https://www.hants.gov.uk/News/20240319BSIPMoreFrequentBuses

This petition is a call to Government to restrict obstructive pavement parking.
If you feel strongly about this issue, please express your views via this petition by 5 March.
Or have a word with your local Council -Councilor's. as to what help may be
needed for you xx

Petition: Introduce national restrictions on pavement parking. Parking on pavements poses a serious threat to public safety as cars blocking pavements can force people out on to the road. We want the Government to legislate restricting pavement parking, unless an exception is made by a local authority, to ensure that everyone can walk their streets safely.

Gosport Interchange Improvements - Update and Winter Newsletter

A new shelter for the taxi rank will be installed on the morning of Thursday 29 February 2024. In order to install the shelter, it will be necessary to temporarily close the outer (northern) lane of the taxi rank, as well as the southbound carriageway and footway on South Street between the taxi rank and the existing bus station access to enable the shelter to be lifted into place.

During the time that the vehicle is parked on South Street, taxis exiting the taxi rank and traffic on South Street will be controlled using Stop/ Go boards. Pedestrians on South Street between the bus station access and the taxi rank will be assisted by traffic marshals, who will be present throughout the shelter lifting operation. Once the shelter has been lifted into place and the vehicle has left, then both the carriageway and footway on South Street will reopen, with the lane on the taxi rank reopening once the shelter has been installed, all power connections completed and footway surfacing re-laid.

Further updates on the progress of the scheme can be found via the scheme webpage, including a copy of the latest scheme newsletter here:

Gosport Interchange Improvements Transforming Cities Fund - bus, taxi, pedestrian and public realm improvements in Gosport.

Exeter Airport Accessible Virtual Tour Survey Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Participants wanted for research into accessible outdoor gates

Lauren Payne is a final year product design student at Brunel Uni.
She is working with members of Disabled Ramblers, Natural England and Centerwire as part of the Accessible Gates Workshop to develop a hands-free accessible footpath gate for her Major Project.

Lauren is looking for participants who live in the UK and use mobility aids to take part in a 30 minute semi-structured online interview about your experience with countryside accessibility, footpaths and gates. This will be a great help in ensuring the design is the best it can be and meets everyone's needs.

Participants will be provided with a participant information leaflet and consent forms. All findings will be anonymised.

If you are interested in taking part or have any questions please get in contact with Lauren at [email protected].

Thanks so much!

Photo shows Lauren with a mock-up / model and technical specification for countryside gate

Bus Stop Design for Disabled People In partnership with Guide Dogs, we are conducting research into the impact of design trends that are on the increase within the built environment on people with a range of disabilities. These design trends include Bus Stop Boarders and Bypasses; Continuous or Blended Pavements; and Shared Pedestrian...

Participants wanted for research into accessible public transport in London and Berlin

Chris Cook is a postgraduate researcher at the Institute for Transport Studies based at the University of Leeds.

Chris is conducting his PhD on the subject of the future of accessible travel and is focusing his work on Britain and Germany.

He is trying to identify the key barriers to using public transport for persons with a broad range of different impairments.
Then, through the methods of visioning and backcasting, he is aiming to construct pathways to overcoming these barriers in the future.

Chris is planning to use qualitative methods (ie interviews and focus groups) to carry out his research, which will focus on his two case study cities of London and Berlin.

Chris is totally blind himself and is a regular user of public transport. He is bilingual in English and German and is keen to make contact with transport users who have any kind of disability / impairment (be it physical, sensory or cognitive).

Chris is also interested in speaking to anyone who accompanies people with the above impairments (ie as a companion / carer) on their journeys.

All potential interview participants must be over 18 and be in a position to give informed consent.

Chris is planning to start interviews in March.
It is envisaged that each interview will last for around an hour. There will then be a follow-up round of workshops at a later stage as his research progresses.
Both the interviews and workshops will take place via zoom.

Chris has separate information sheets for key stakeholders and urban planners and for public transport users in both English and German. He can send the relevant info (in the relevant language) to any interested participants as required.

Anyone who is interested in participating in Chris's research should send an email to:
[email protected].

To whom it may concern,

My name is Charlie Fletcher, and I recently started working for Hampshire Cultural Trust as the Learning and Engagement Coordinator, for the NLHF funded 'Gosport Heritage-led Regeneration and Succession Project' (GHRASP). The projects aim is to encourage heritage development and engagement in our community through a series of activities including training and workshops, a community grants programme, exhibitions and the creation of new community resources.

In 2024 we will be offering free training to individuals, organisations, and groups who want to advance their heritage and community work while also improving their skill sets and training could include courses, masterclasses, one-to-one consultations, and hands-on learning. It's vitally important that we provide the training that you want and with that in mind we have put together a short survey (link below) and would be grateful if you could spend a couple of minutes completing it. This is a unique free opportunity to skill up, improve existing knowledge and take you and/or your organisation to the next level and we look forward to reading your responses. Please feel free to forward the survey on to colleagues, friends or other organisations who you think may be interested.

GHRASP Training Programme Survey Turn data collection into an experience with Typeform. Create beautiful online forms, surveys, quizzes, and so much more. Try it for FREE.

IMPORTANT!
Hampshire County Council Future Services Consultation

The County Council has launched a public consultation to understand people’s views across Hampshire on options to change and reduce some local services and help the Authority address a £132 million budget shortfall faced by April 2025.

The Future Services Consultation runs from 8 January to 31 March 2024, and signals the next stage in the County Council’s plans to ensure it can focus support to the most vulnerable people in Hampshire – such as protecting children from harm, social care for older people, and supporting adults and children with disabilities and additional needs - while meeting its legal duty to deliver a balanced budget in 2025/26.

Hampshire is in a better position than most other councils, but in the absence of a national funding solution to address the higher costs and demand pressures facing the whole of local government, tougher decisions and deeper savings are needed in Hampshire to ensure the local authority can keep providing critical services after April 2025 for those people who need its help the most.

Read more about why the County Council is asking for the public’s views in this consultation by visiting www.hants.gov.uk/future-services-consultation .

Covering various local services, including: road repairs, streetlights, household waste recycling centres and library stock levels, the consultation sets out 13 detailed options to help lower costs in future – by doing things differently, and moving towards providing only those services that the County Council is legally required to deliver.

You are welcome to share your views on some or all of the options as you prefer, but those which may be of particular interest to you include :

• Passenger transport: To reduce the amount of money spent on passenger transport by withdrawing all remaining funding that the County Council is not legally required to provide. This includes funding for community transport services (incorporating Dial-a-Ride, Call and Go, Taxi Shares, Group Hire Services, and Wheels to Work), subsidies for bus routes that are not commercially viable, additional funding to extend the Concessionary Travel Scheme (older and disabled persons bus passes) and a review of the potential impact of reductions on the school transport service and social care budgets

• Adult social care charges: Proposals to change the way contributions towards non-residential social care costs are calculated, so that the amount someone pays towards their non-residential care and support increases from 95% to 100% of any assessable income remaining once standard outgoings are paid for and an allowance is made for general living costs such as food, utility bills and clothing.

• Adult social care grant schemes: To withdraw funding for three Adult Social Care grant programmes that assist voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations in Hampshire, namely the Council for Voluntary Services Infrastructure Grant, the Citizens Advice Infrastructure Grant and the Local Solutions Grant.

How to have your say:
The consultation runs from midday on 8 January to 11:59pm on 31 March 2024. Views can be provided on some or all of the 13 service change proposals presented in the consultation.

Complete the consultation online
Feedback can be provided by using the consultation Response Form, available online via the consultation webpage: www.hants.gov.uk/future-services-consultation

Responses can also be emailed directly to Hampshire County Council via: [email protected] or write to Freepost HAMPSHIRE. (Please also write PandO, IEU, FM09 on the back of the envelope).

Copies of the information packs and the consultation Response Form, along with Easy Read versions of these documents, are available to view, download and print on the consultation webpage: www.hants.gov.uk/future-services-consultation

Additionally, each Hampshire library holds a standard reference copy of the Information Packs and a number of paper Response Forms.

If you have any queries about the consultation or need to request a paper copy of the Information Pack or the Response Form, or a copy in another language or format (such as audio, large print, or Braille) please contact: [email protected], or call: 0300 555 1375.

Your views count
Your views are very important, so please take the time to respond to the consultation and encourage others to do the same.

The responses submitted through this consultation will be collated and used to shape final savings plans that will be considered by the County Council’s individual Cabinet Councillors later this year.

Hampshire County Council Future Services Consultation Hampshire County Council is asking for people’s views on the future of some local services in a public consultation on options to help the Authority meet a £132 million budget shortfall by April 2025

Changes to bus timetables from 4th and 18th February 2024

Good news: Some routes in Portsmouth are to have improvements made to their frequencies, including in the evenings.

The Numbers 2 and 23 will run 24 hours / day, 7 days / week.
NB the 2 (operated by First) connects The Hard to Paulsgrove via City Centre, Albert Road, Eastney, Copnor, Hilsea, Cosham and QA Hospital. The 23 (operated by Stagecoach) connects Southsea to Leigh Park via Palmerston Road, The Hard, City Centre, London Road, Hilsea, Cosham, Farlington and Havant Town Centre.

The changes to services run by First will take effect on 4th February and to Stagecoach services on 18th February.

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/2024/01/09/24-7-bus-routes-dawn-in-portsmouth/

Bad news: More tinkering to the X4 / X5 and the 9 / 9A. Again to take effect on the 4th February.

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/portsmouth-fareham-gosport/news-and-service-updates/updates/changes-timetables-4-february-2024

24/7 bus routes dawn in Portsmouth Residents of Portsmouth will benefit from a transformation to their daily journeys as two key bus routes start running 24 hours a day, and others operate later and increase in frequency, providing greater accessibility for bus passengers in the city.

Whether you are making your first claim for PIP, UC, ESA DLA or AA, having your award reviewed or appealing against a decision, 'Benefits and Work' guides will ensure you are not left bewildered or missing out on important information that could make the difference between failure and success.

They provide a wealth of info for FREE and more for a small annual fee (under £20 for an individual).

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Have you struggled to deal with Christmas shopping this year?

Please let us know your experience, whether looking for gifts, or shopping for food, or just being able to engage with the festive experience in Gosport.
We will feed your views back to GBC, HCC Highways, shops, event organisers, and anyone else who can improve your experience.

Merry Christmas everyone

Do you know about Spectrum Centre for Independent Living in Southampton? It's worth checking out their Facebook and website to see what they are all about...

Extra accessible parking is always welcome.

Today our car park has been remarked with 2 new disabled bays