To ensure as many people as possible can take part in its transport consultation, West Yorkshire Combined Authority has produced Braille, large print and Easy Read versions of the information.
While Braille and large print information is primarily for people who are blind or visually impaired, the Easy Read information is aimed for use by people with a learning disability. It explains the Bus Strategy in an illustrated, step-by-step storyboard form and provides a clear form for readers to use to send feedback.
Easy Read versions of the YourTravelYourSay information are available, along with large print information and standard survey forms at www.yourtravelyoursay.co.uk(external link) In addition, the Combined Authority’s consultation team has shared the Easy Read information with local authorities, voluntary sector organizations and self-advocacy groups that work with learning-disabled people across West Yorkshire.
The team is also running a series of workshop and feedback sessions with a wide range of groups to gather feedback on the Transport and Bus Strategies. These include Leeds PSI Network, Disability Partnership Calderdale, Bradford People First Citizens Group, Bradford mobility Planning Group, Bradford Facing it Together Group, Kirklees Involvement Network, Kirklees Blind and Low Vision Group, Guide Dog surgeries and Wakefield WANDS.
Cllr Keith Wakefield, West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Chair said:
“It is hugely important that we get as wide a range of people’s views as possible as part of this three-month consultation, including those of disabled people, some of whom are frequent bus and train users.
“We are determined everyone should have the opportunity to shape West Yorkshire’s future transport so I’m delighted we’ve had very positive feedback from people about our Easy Read information with people telling us it’s ‘really useful and positive’, ‘brill’ and ‘excellent work !’”.
The twelfth week of the Combined Authority’s 14-week consultations on the future of bus services and the West Yorkshire transport system sees drop-in events at:
• University of Bradford, Monday 3rd October, 11:00 -14:00
• Leeds Rail Station, Tuesday 4th October, 07:00 – 10:00
• Heckmondwike, Morrisons, Tuesday 4th October, 11:00 – 14:00
• Calderdale College, Halifax, Wednesday 5th October 11.00 – 14.00
• Belle Isle Working Men’s Club, Leeds, Wednesday 5th October 16:00 – 19:00
• Wakefield College, Castleford, Thursday 6th October, 11:00 – 14:00
• Halifax Bus Station, Thursday 6th October, 15:00 – 18:00
• Pudsey Bus Station, Friday 7th October, 10:30 – 13:30
Over 4,000 people from across West Yorkshire have now taken part and given their views on the local bus network and transport system and over 65 of the planned 80 drop-in sessions have already taken place.
Regular updates and reminders on when and where the remaining drop-in sessions are taking place continue to be posted on social media. Twitter: @yrtravelyrsay and @WestYorkshireCA Facebook: Yourtravelyoursay as well as at www.yourtravelyoursay.co.uk(external link) .
Leeds City Council has also invited everyone in the city to “join in the conversation” on the future of transport in Leeds and to take part in an online survey at www.leeds.gov.uk/transportconversation(external link). The “conversation” began following the government’s decision to turn down the proposed New Generation Transport (NGT) scheme for Leeds in May, but with £173.5m of funding for the scheme being retained to invest in transport in the city.
The Council wants to find out how people currently use the transport network in Leeds, what they think of it and what the priorities should be in terms of future investment.