Victory for disabled is claimed but ‘island still needs proper legislation’
Monday 27th April 2009, 11:30AM BST.
CONDOR has stepped up moves to improve its service for disabled passengers following a complaint made by a traveller last week.
Tony Catania, 63, who was holidaying in Guernsey and struggles to walk more than 50 metres at a time, was repeatedly refused help to board a ship to Guernsey.
Following his day trip to Jersey, he wrote a letter of complaint to the company.
Mr Catania (pictured) received a letter on Thursday from the managing director Simon Edsall which outlined a list of planned improvements.
‘We do take our responsibilities extremely seriously and as a result we have carried out an investigation and review of the circumstances surrounding your journey and of the procedures and facilities that we currently have in place,’ said Mr Edsall.
He said arrangements would be made to provide accredited training for Jersey Harbour porters on how to deal properly with wheelchair users and refresher training would also be provided for Condor staff.
He added that the operations manager would remind its ships’ masters to ensure that there was a member of crew present on the car deck to assist passengers who required the use of the lift.
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And no small help from the GP and the comments posted on these frums I would guess. Well done GP and Tony. And about time Condor!
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English lessons on the cards then?
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Well done Condor but how about giving the chap and his wife a free crossing ?
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Jackie, if your the writer who ended the last thread about wheelchairs.
In answer to the main point you raised. I would agree with you, and yes I have an electric wheelchair, but as any of the disabled forums would advise you, you would not want to put it in an aircrafts hold even if the carrier allowed you to in the first place. They are far too expensive to be damaged when transported.
Our option is to rent one in the places we visit and this has been the case in South Africa, America and throughout Europe. Cars are also of an adequate size to transport these very portable electric scooters and so forward planning is made much easier and countries very accessible.
You cannot rent an electric wheelchair on Guernsey, I know, I’ve tried!
I repeat, my original email was to highlight the lack of support on your Island for the disabled be it Islander or tourist, and you have highlighted another area that we came up against.
Tourism must be high on the Islands interest (even if they don’t cater for their own people with mobility needs) and as we are an ageing population including disabled people from around the world, you would think that disability/mobility would be one major area that would be carefully addressed by companies and your government. I stayed in a hotel which had more than on disabled lift and which strived to make all public areas accessable (even though I except that its not always cost effective and that there are limits to which businesses can go) at least the effort has been demonstrated.
As I said, my only reason was to try and improve matters and highlight an area that appears sadly lacking in attention and could only benefit the Island if it were addressed.
John
Condor have refunded our fares. I hope someone is keeping an eye on all their promises!
I keep missing Guernsey, is it infectious/or a disease?
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Hi Tony
This Jackie isn’t the other jackie. I’m upper case, she’s lower case ;)
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