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New tax on disabled motorists
HARD-PRESSED disabled motorists, already reeling from rising oil prices and insurance hikes, face yet another raid on their wallet. The Government is considering a fee of £4.50 per year simply to register a car. This would be levied even if the owner was exempt from the payment of Vehicle Excise Duty as a result of their disabil- ity, and would apply if the vehicle was off the road. This "favoured option" of an annual tax on every car is contained in a consul- tation document on driver licensing and vehicle registration fees circulated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Dubbed a "stealth tax" by sections of the media, it is estimated that the annual revenue could amount to well over £100 million - used to continue the switch to "photo card" driving licences and the upgrading of vehicle registration docu- ments to help prevent fraud.
At present, any motorist buying a new car pays a one-off £38 fee to reg-ister their vehicle and receive their V5 document, which records them as the registered keeper. There is no subsequent fee if the vehicle is sold.
The new proposals would mean that the initial cost, on a new car, would fall by £10 to £28 but an annual fee of £4.50 would be payable until the car was scrapped. Assuming that a vehicle lasts into its tenth year, the income generated for the Government would increase from £38 to £68.50.
There is better news in the proposals for driving licensing, where the cost of a driving licence for over-21s will be reduced from £38 to £30, but will be free for drivers under 21. Licence renewals will also be free.
Ed Passant, Chief Executive of the DDMC, said "The proposal to levy an annual charge on disabled motorists is completely illogical. How can one reconcile the policy to exempt some disabled people from vehicle excise duty, in recognition of their mobility needs, and yet propose to slap an additional charge on them, simply to register their vehicle.
It doesn't exactly represent joined up thinking! "We know, from the results of our Cost of Motoring Survey, that disabled motorists are struggling to find the money to maintain their mobility.
They've been faced with substantial hikes in vehicle running costs, which certainly haven't been reflected in increases in benefits. The current surge in world oil prices makes the situation look even bleaker.
"For the Government to now suggest a regressive tax, which only benefits the type of owner who changes their new car every year or so, is completely unacceptable."
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Gowrings heads north andsouth with mobility shows
GOWRINGS Mobility has decided to run two shows next year, saying the sucess of their southern event was behind the move.
The company has set the dates forMobility South on May 6-7 at Newbury Racecourse, Newbury. A similar event, Mobility North, will be held on September 30-October 1 at the Magna Science Centre in Rotherham .
Gowrings Mobility says the shows will follows the same formula as before. "Rather than focus on the quantity of exhibitors and visitors that can be crammed in, Gowrings Mobility will handpick a careful selection of likeminded, reputable organisations and charities, guaranteed to provide visitors with a diverse range of products and services in a relaxed and pressure-free environment," said the company.
Linda Ling, managing director of Gowrings Mobility, said: "Feedback from our customers is that, at some exhibitions, they just don't have time to actually talk to us about their needs. They are too busy trying to get round to all the stands, and when they do get there, they have to queue.
"And some find the sheer size of the layout physically exhausting and the number of exhibits confusing."
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Merger talks progress
DDMC representatives David Grieve and Ed Passant met with their DDA opposite numbers, Joe Hennessy and Douglas Campbell, to continue the merger discussions. The meeting was very positive and highlighted the work that needed to be done in preparation for another joint meeting of trustees in early December.
"We are preparing some of the ground for a full discussion of the key issues amongst both sets of trustees and we remain very optimistic about progress" said Ed Passant , DDMC Chief Executive.
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Mobility Roadshow
THE DATE has been set for next year's Mobility Roadshow. It will run from July 7-9 and will again be held at Donington Park. We will bring you further details when they are announced.
THE LIMBLESS Association's inaugural Amputees' Motorcycle Track & Information Day, held on September 20 at Donington Park, was a great success.
"Following the tremendous level of support and interest received, a similar event is already being pencilled in for next year," said the organisers.
"The invitation will almost certainly be broadened to an even wider audience, not specifically amputees, but all levels of disability. A disabled motorsport festival!"
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Motability: More good news
Ed Passant looks at a number of changes which, although smaller than some of the seismic upheavals of the last couple of years, are still highly significant and reflect Motability Operations' new customer-centred approach.
From October 1 2004 applications are now welcomed from potential contract hire customers with at least 12 months award (Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement) remaining when they apply. Previously, to join the Mobility scheme, customers had to be in receipt of their allowance for the full length (normally three years) of the type of agreement they selected. A common problem with the scheme was that it didn't meet the needs of disabled people who often had a shorter than three-year award on their first assessment - even though it was obvious to everyone that their condition was unlike ly to change. At the same time Motability have launched a fixed three-month price list.
This gives far greater pricing stability and reduces the frustration caused by constantly changing prices. It certainly hasn't been unknown for a car to require no advance payment one month and then require a hefty up-front sum the next. At least three-month pricing gives a longer period in which to choose your next vehicle and should ease some of the worst frustrations!
Ed Passant looks at a number of changes which, although smaller than some of the seismic upheavals of the last couple of years, are still highly significant and reflect Motability Operations' new customer-centred approach.
Motability Operations claims that customers handing back their cars will now find the process a lot easier and more straightforward. This follows the streamlining and simplification of the much criticised "fair wear and tear" standards in September 2003, which are now fairer and more consistent. They report that 90 of customers now pass the end of contact inspection, and satisfaction with both the process and any repairs required has soared since the changes.
Royal and Sun Alliance Motability have won the contract to provide motor insurance for a further six years and a number of enhancements are now offered including:
Where a courtesy car is not available you can claim loss of use benefit for the entire period you are without a car following an incident (excluding the first week).
Introduction of new personal accident cover, which covers the driver and all passengers to a limit of £5000.
The rules around business use have been simplified and you can now use a Motability car for charitable and voluntary work such as Meals on Wheels.
You will no longer have to pay an insurance excess up front where an identified third party is at fault.
You'll be covered, not only for the scheme car, but also any other car approved or provided by Motability.
Green Cards are no longer required where travel abroad is for 90 days or less in any 12-month period (but check the other conditions that apply).
There is now no limit on in-car equipment cover (previously £750).
Fully equipped Dedicated Repair Centres will be set up across the UK, offering customers quicker and better service.
If your car is in for repair you'll receive regular updates on progress - even by text messaging.
And the ideas haven't yet dried up - word has it that, for the future, Motability are looking at the possibility of rewarding drivers who keep their vehicles in good condition and have a good claims record. They are also thinking about how to give something back to drivers with low mileage on the Scheme.
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Briefly
THE Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC)'has launched a website to give disabled people information and advice about all aspects of transport and travel.
Nell Betteridge, chair of DPTAC, said: "Our recent research Attitudes of Disabled People to Public Transport showed that the lack of high quality, accurate information is a major barrier for disabled people accessing public transport.
"We believe we have developed an easy to use website which provides a single comprehensive source of information and advice to disabled people on all aspects of planning and making journeys." See: www.dptac.gov.uk/door-to-door
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HOTEL
HOTEL group Hilton UK & Ireland has linked up with national charity Shaw Trust, a leading provider of employment services for people with disabilities and disadvantages, to open their doors to thousands of job-hunters.
The group employs more than 15,000 people in 77 hotels in the UK. The agreement means that Shaw Trust clients who are straggling to find work because of disabilities, ill health or social cir-cumstances will be able to access all of Hilton's vacancies nationwide.
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SAILING
Sailing charity The Jubilee Sailing Trust has been awarded a £2,800 Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
The trust is the first British charity to benefit from the foundation, set up by the actor, who died last month.
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Landmark day for rights
As part three of the Disability Discrimination Act came into force, disabled people welcomed its effects on organisations up and down the land.
IT WAS A "landmark date for disabled people in Britain," declared Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission.
Speaking as part three of the Disability Discrimination Act came into effect on October 1, Mr Massie said: "New equal access laws will have a pro-found effect on every high street - for the first time giving disabled people the right to buy goods, to get a service and to be treated fairly.
"Small improvements will bring big benefits for businesses. Improving access will help them tap into the £50 billion annual spending power of disabled peo-ple and to be genuinely open for all. After 10 years' advanced notice of these changes, there is no excuse for inaction."
Employment rights for disabled peo-ple would also be dramatically improved as disability discrimination law was extended to cover all employers, what-ever their size, apart from the armed forces.
"These new laws will enable disabled people to contribute more to society and to build up pensions to support them-selves in later life," Mr Massie added.
The power of the laws was dem-onstrated by the ripples of awareness spreading through the business com-munity. One consultant warned of "an imminent wave of new disability dis-crimination claims against small firms".
Croner Consulting, a provider of busi-ness advice and support, pointed out that from October 1, the provisions of the DDA would catch all employers irre-spective of size.
"This means that employees will be able to claim against their employer if they are treated less favourably due to a disability, or if their employer fails to make 'reasonable adjustments' in the workplace to prevent them being placed at a substantial disadvantage in their employment," said the company.
This is the most significant change in law affecting small employers in recent years according to Richard Smith, HR expert at Croner Consulting.
"Owner-managers of small firms are often too busy to keep up to date with changes in employment legislation, but they will ignore this latest change at their peril as disability discrimination is one of the few types of fines where the compensation can be unlimited.
"Compensation for disability dis-crimination is frequently in excess of £100,000 - a tribunal will not be lenient for a smaller firm since the amount of compensation is based on the injustice suffered by the claimant, rather than the employer's ability to pay."
The extensions to the DDA also brought all police officers into its scope and saw preparations among forces across the country. In London, The Met held a special event at New Scotland Yard called "Embracing the Change - DDA is here".
In another example of widespread preparation for the extended DDA, the 400,000 member-strong Camping and Caravanning Club put all of its holiday site managers and area managers through disability awareness training in prepara-tion for October 1.
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THE INCLUSIVE Fitness Initiative
THE INCLUSIVE Fitness Initiative has launched its first nine inclusive fitness suites as part of the main roll-out of the £5 million Lottery Funded programme following a £1 million pilot scheme.
Former Boxer Michael Watson MBE (above, left), patron of the scheme, officially launched Waltham Forest Pool and Track in London with Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes (above, right).
Sports personalities also launched or attended facilities across the country, including Simon Jackson, Paralympic judo competitor, John Harris, former Paralympian, and Phil De Glanville, former England rugby international. The official launches coincided with the latest phase of the Disability Discrimination Act. As part of the celebrations, centres opened their doors so disabled visitors could try out the new state-of-the art facilities and talk to staff about setting fitness programmes using the fitness suite.
Sue Catton, Inclusive Fitness Initiative National Director, said: "In getting to this stage IFI Sites have illustrated a strong commitment to the inclusion of disabled people throughout their fitness facilities."
Michael Watson said: "In my life I have faced many battles. They said I'd never walk again, and I complet-ed the marathon. I did that through hard work, working at facilities like this. And I'm still in great shape. We need more fitness facilities like this."
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Pushing for British pride
DDMC office manager David Holding relives the highs and lows of his Athens experience,
I'm safely back from Athens, where I competed in two finals and just missed out on the medals in the 100m wheelchair sprint, coming fourth in a dramatic race.
The 100m heats went really well and I qualified for the semi-finals in a time of 14.22 seconds, which was a personal best time without wind assistance. The semi-final went well and, despite going slower than in the heat, I managed to qualify for the final.
By the day of the final I was really ready for it and everything was feeling good. But there was quite a bit of drama with two false starts caused by the athlete from Thailand.
Eventually, we got started and I man-aged to get a good start and was going well up to 50m, but then I felt myself labouring for the next 50m as three other athletes pulled away towards the'end of the race. Earlier in the Games I made it through to the final of the 200m, com-ing second in the semi-final which went really well. I was in lane six and had a good start, qualifying for the final with a personal best time 25.84 seconds. However, my final didn't go too well. It didn't help getting lane one, but I got a good start before having a poor second half of the bend, which made me lose my rhythm. By the time we were in the straight it was very hard because I was trying to catch up and I ended in 8th place.
Away from competition, the games were extremely well organised, start-ing with a first-class ceremony - such a fantastic atmosphere to experience in a completely full stadium. Unfortunately, some athletes, including myself, missed it because taking part meant we couldn't get back to the accommodation until about Sam.
This can affect your performance if you are competing in the next couple of days or have an important training ses-sion the next day to complete. We did, however, watch it on television at the Paralympic village.
The village was spread out, which meant there was a quite a push to the dining area for your daily meals. However, there were buses continually operating to and from the dinner area to the apartments if you didn't feel like pushing. The dining area was large, like entering a shopping centre that catered for all national countries. It even had a McDonald's, as they were one of the official sponsors. Most athletes avoided it until they had finished competing.
The actual sports facilities for train-ing and competing were excellent. There was on-site training at the accommoda-tion village, a first-class fast training track and, when you travelled through to Athens to the main athletics stadium, you found there were two warm-up tracks to use before going through to the main stadium for the race.
There was a closing ceremony to complete the end of the Paralympic Games, which included the lowering of the Paralympic flag and it being handed over to the next host city, Beijing in 2008.
I won't be there competing as I have already told the sports organisations of my decision to retire.
I've been racing a long while now and have been trying to balance my commitments with my full-time job. I've had a great time racing and I'm happy with my decision.
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