Aston Villa are to due to play their final home league stage match of this seasons UEFA Champions League this evening when we welcome Scottish side Celtic to B6 in Birmingham.
The station is located about a 5 to 10 minute walk or wheel away from the stadium which saw the team from West Midlands Trains (WMT) install accessible waiting spaces on both platforms at the start of this year.
I started campaigning for better access at the station on behalf of the disabled football supporters and local residents who use Witton Lane on a regular basis to travel around the West Midlands.
In February 2023 I felt like it was time to say enough was enough, we the disabled community are sick to the back teeth of encountering issues every time that we travel from the station, we deserve an acceptable level of service just like our able-bodied counterparts.
As you will know by now I wrote to Aston Villa about the issue of accessibility at the station for those who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other walking aids and they passed my letter onto the team at West Midlands Trains (WMT).
On the 28th of November, 2023 I finally met with senior officials from the operator so that they could see for themselves the issues that I and others were facing when travelling home from the station.
Once I had shared my experiences with the team I asked if it would be possible for them to install waiting spaces at the station in a bid to improve the match-day experience of disabled supporters, much to my surprise they agreed to this suggestion.
December last year saw us return to the station, where we agreed on the locations for the new signage and it comes in the following styles:
- A wall sign that is mounted on a brick station shelter in the form of a square which is blue and white and has a white wheelchair logo and the words “for mobility assistance, please wait here” inside.
- A fence sign that is mounted on a wooden platform fence in the form of a square that is blue and white and has a white wheelchair logo and the words “for mobility assistance, please wait here” inside.
- A blue and white box that is painted on the station platform floors with a white wheelchair logo and the words “for mobility assistance, please wait here” inside.
Those who require assisted travel when attending this evening’s match it can be booked in the following ways, this can be done up to 2 hours before travel:
By Phone: 0800 024 8998 or by using Next Generation Text – 18001 0800 024 8998.
Online: https://booking.passengerassistance.com.
Using the App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/passenger-assistance/id1542190496.
If you enjoyed reading this morning’s post about the accessibility of Witton Lane station for those using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking aids ahead of Aston Villa’s clash with Celtic this evening then why not subscribe and receive my posts direct to your inbox within minutes of publication.
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I would once again like to place on record my thanks to the incredible team at West Midlands Trains who delivered on what I suggested in November 2023 as fast as was physically possible, it hasn’t gone unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
A thanks must also go to you, my loyal readers and followers who take time out of there busy schedules each week to read my latest post, again it doesn’t go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated.
Cam
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