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The Isle of Lewis Access Panel will be holding its AGM at 5.30 pm on Tuesday 26th January 2010 and will be held in the Clinical Skills area of the Western Isles Hospital.
Anyone interested in Access issues for disabled people or wishes to join the Access Panel is welcome to attend.

I discovered only last month that though the National Trust provides disabled parking spaces at many of their sites they do not restrict their use to holders of Blue Badges and don't do anything about other drivers parking there. I am aware of the drawbacks of the Blue Badge scheme but I think the answer isn't to disregard it (since it is agreed across the European Union) but to improve it.
You might care to consider this scheme as it affects visitors to Lewis.

The Scottsh Parlament have passed legislation that will penalise anyone
wrongly using an accessible parking bay. The new legislation was backed
by SNP transport minister Stewart Stevenson. The new Bill proposed by
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie brought a rare degree of cross-party support
at Holyrood. www.update.org.uk/a/news_and_events/disabled_persons_parking_bill.php

I recently noticed that the Callanish Stones pathway has been taken up and replaced by turf, a far more natural setting.

I do wonder however if this is causing access issues, 4 out of 5 times I visit I have had a disabled companion.

Visiting the stones is a meaningful experience for many folk. Is some sort of wheelchair friendly path needed? and has anyone a suggestion of a low impact type?

Dear Access Panel,

As you may be aware - Jackie Baillie MSP is introducing a Bill in the Scottish Parliament designed to ensure that all disabled parking bays throughout Scotland are legally enforceable.

I believe the Bill will make a significant difference to the lives of disabled blue badge holders across Scotland and ask the Access Panel members to support the Bill by emailing your Name, Address and Postcode before 22 January 2009 to Jackie.Baillie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

As a wheelchair user with a spinal injury I am keen to see the Bill supported by every region throughout Scotland.

Many thanks
Alexander McGinnity