AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
AN angry mum has branded Barnet Council’s cancellation of some free disabled travel passes “a disgrace” after her autistic daughter was nearly left stranded miles from home.
Vulnerable 19-year-old Jenny Fairclough had tried to use her Freedom Pass to board a bus when, without any advance warning, it was declined.
Concern was expressed this week that potentially hundreds of other Barnet residents with similar mental health issues or learning difficulties could have had their passes cancelled without warning too.
Jenny, from Edgware, has moderate learning difficulties and speech and language problems.
Her mum Siobhan said: “Luckily the bus driver realised Jenny had learning difficulties and let her on, but he could have easily thrown her off.
“When Jenny gets upset she throws tantrums, like a two-year-old , and has to be restrained. She screams and shouts, gets very agitated and could have run out into the road.
“Luckily that didn’t happen; she called me and I went to get her, but the consequences could have been absolutely terrible. ”
Mrs Fairclough, vice chairwoman of governors of Oak Lodge School, a specialist cognition and learning college, in Heath View , East Finchley, where Jenny is a student, added: “Barnet have
failed in their duty of care to these young people. Not only to cancel the passes, but to do so without warning is a disgrace.”
A petition was launched by Barnet’ s Labour councillors this week demanding the town hall re-instates all the disabled Freedom Passes it has cancelled.
Pensioners and those with certain disabilities are entitled to Freedom passes. Older people’s passes are administered by London Councils – the body representing the capital’s 32 boroughs – while individual local authorities administer passes for people with disabilities within their boroughs.
Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet’ s Labour Group, said: “Cancelling these Freedom Passes without giving any notice to the pass holders is callous act that has caused humiliation and upset for
those trying to use their pass legitimately to travel on public transport.
“I have raised this issue with the Head of Service who has agreed to conduct an investigation into what has happened and a review of the criteria used to cancel passes.”
Jamie Blake, Barnet’ s commissioning director for environment, said: “We understand freedom passes are a highly valued means of getting around by those who use the scheme, which is why
it is important to ensure that only those who are eligible can use them.
“We are unable to comment on individual cases but we would like to apologise for any distress that may have been caused.
“Residents who have had their pass withdrawn will be contacted by us within the next seven days to discuss their circumstances. ”
SOURCE: http://www.northlondon-today.co.uk/...ithout warning§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016
AN angry mum has branded Barnet Council’s cancellation of some free disabled travel passes “a disgrace” after her autistic daughter was nearly left stranded miles from home.
Vulnerable 19-year-old Jenny Fairclough had tried to use her Freedom Pass to board a bus when, without any advance warning, it was declined.
Concern was expressed this week that potentially hundreds of other Barnet residents with similar mental health issues or learning difficulties could have had their passes cancelled without warning too.
Jenny, from Edgware, has moderate learning difficulties and speech and language problems.
Her mum Siobhan said: “Luckily the bus driver realised Jenny had learning difficulties and let her on, but he could have easily thrown her off.
“When Jenny gets upset she throws tantrums, like a two-year-old , and has to be restrained. She screams and shouts, gets very agitated and could have run out into the road.
“Luckily that didn’t happen; she called me and I went to get her, but the consequences could have been absolutely terrible. ”
Mrs Fairclough, vice chairwoman of governors of Oak Lodge School, a specialist cognition and learning college, in Heath View , East Finchley, where Jenny is a student, added: “Barnet have
failed in their duty of care to these young people. Not only to cancel the passes, but to do so without warning is a disgrace.”
A petition was launched by Barnet’ s Labour councillors this week demanding the town hall re-instates all the disabled Freedom Passes it has cancelled.
Pensioners and those with certain disabilities are entitled to Freedom passes. Older people’s passes are administered by London Councils – the body representing the capital’s 32 boroughs – while individual local authorities administer passes for people with disabilities within their boroughs.
Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet’ s Labour Group, said: “Cancelling these Freedom Passes without giving any notice to the pass holders is callous act that has caused humiliation and upset for
those trying to use their pass legitimately to travel on public transport.
“I have raised this issue with the Head of Service who has agreed to conduct an investigation into what has happened and a review of the criteria used to cancel passes.”
Jamie Blake, Barnet’ s commissioning director for environment, said: “We understand freedom passes are a highly valued means of getting around by those who use the scheme, which is why
it is important to ensure that only those who are eligible can use them.
“We are unable to comment on individual cases but we would like to apologise for any distress that may have been caused.
“Residents who have had their pass withdrawn will be contacted by us within the next seven days to discuss their circumstances. ”
SOURCE: http://www.northlondon-today.co.uk/...ithout warning§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016
