Flintshire
Disability Forum
Report of a meeting of the Flintshire Disability Forum held at the Pavilion, Flint
on Tuesday, 28th September 1999.
Brian Harrison, the Chairman, welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked members for
coming. He introduced the first speaker of the day, Wynford Lloyd Davies from the
Community Transport Association.
Wynford Lloyd Davies gave a talk on the work of the Community Transport Association,
informing the group that there were about 50 Community Transport schemes registered in
Wales. The C.T.A. had been initially set up with a grant from the Welsh Office. The
National Assembly were putting in a quarter of a million pounds
during the next three years and there was a possibility of additional funding from Camelot
and Lloyds T.S.B.
To show just how big a part transport played in everyday life, the forum was split into
three groups and asked to say where they were going, yesterday, today and tomorrow. The
exercise showed how much everyone depended on transport to get about.
Mr. Lloyd Davies went on to say that it was very much up to individuals to help improve
public and community transport in their areas by bringing deficiencies to the notice of
Local Authorities. He explained that advice on vehicles would be available from the
Association, and also training for volunteer drivers through MIDAS (Minibus Drivers'
Awareness Scheme).
The speaker invited questions from the floor and a member expressed strong concern about
the railways, a concern which was echoed by many other members present. Mr. Lloyd Davies
said he was having meetings with railway companies Another member
expressed concern about the lack of a proper management structure in Community Transport
Schemes.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Lloyd Davies for an interesting and informative talk and after a
short coffee break he updatedmembers on the activities of the Forum Committee since July.
Hesaid he had had a very busy time attending meetings with
Disability Wales F.L.V.C. etc. He reported that the office atTy'r Binwydden had now got
some furniture and that the phone linewould be installed shortly. The Forum office was due
to be staffed from Monday 4th October and any member willing to help
with staffing the office was asked to contact Marion Harrison. A member suggested that the
question of insurance should be looked into more fully and that efforts should be made to
get cheaper insurance for voluntary groups. The Chairman agreed that this
was a good point which should be taken up.
It was noted that the second Flintshire County
Council Physically Disability and Sensory Impairment Strategy group had been cancelled
due to transport problems and poor attendance.
The meeting concluded with a short talk from Maggie Berry, Information Officer, Disability
Wales, on the Government's White Paper "Building a Future", which underlined
some of the changes to Social Services.
The Chairman ended the meeting by thanking the two speakers and reminding members that the
next meeting would be held on Tuesday, 26th October 1999 at the Pavilion, Flint.