A VISITOR has complained that the needs of people in wheelchairs are not being looked after on river trips run by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company.
But the company has defended its position saying that its river boats and ferries access policy should have been to explained to passengers under the 2010 Equality Act.
Jane Turner, of Warsash, Hampshire, was on holiday in Devon with her disabled mother when they took a trip on the Cardiff Castle.
She said: ‘There were three steps to be negotiated in order to board the vessel. This made it extremely difficult, embarrassing and uncomfortable for my mother. A reasonable adjustment would have been to have provided a suitable ramp.
‘My mother quite reasonably expected and would liked to have sat outside but there was no way for her to do so without again having to get our of her wheelchair.
‘Even when she got out she had to sit in a gangway with people having to squeeze past her which was a nuisance and again embarrassing for her as she felt that she was always in the way. A reasonable adjustment would be to have taken away the plastic screen on days like today when the weather was fair, thereby allowing her to get outside easily in her wheelchair.
‘When the boat reached Totnes, there was no provision for disabled people to leave the boat.
‘A reasonable adjustment would have been to provide a suitable ramp, although we do accept that this could only be used at times when the tide was sufficiently high as a suitable ramp at low tide would probably be difficult to provide.
‘There was no disabled toilet facility on board.
‘Given that toilet facilities are vital for anybody, I believe that this requires a considerable effort on the part of the company and that this should therefore be provided, even though I imagine it would require quite some imagination and effort.’
John Jones, financial director of the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company, said: ‘Disabled passengers are welcomed on board, but for safe access a small degree of mobility is needed by everyone.
‘Due to jetty and vessel design, passengers who use wheelchairs must be able to walk, assisted if necessary, for just a few steps for access at boarding gates, since our staff are not permitted to lift occupied wheel chairs.
‘Each disabled passenger must be accompanied by a person who is able to help if there is an emergency on board.
‘We regret that motorised wheelchairs and scooters are not normally permitted on board our river boats and/or ferries, due to their weight and bulk, which may obstruct the safe movement of other passengers.
‘The total number of wheelchairs permitted on board is at the discretion of the master of the vessel and may vary depending upon the weather and the vessel’s location.’
He said that every one of the company’s vessels was inspected annually by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency which ensured they were compliant with all relevant legislation.
The MCA advises passengers that if they need to make specific arrangements for their journey, requiring certain accommodation or seating requirements, they should tell the cruise line, ferry service, travel agent or tour operator when they book their ticket, he added.