HEREFORDSHIRE’S main coach station cannot accommodate wheelchair passengers travelling with the National Express.

The pavement at the station is too narrow for the company’s lifts, meaning that if passengers’ wheelchairs are not collapsible, they have to travel to Rosson- Wye or Ledbury and find another way of getting into Hereford from there.

Following evidence that Hereford is one more than 400 National Express stops around the country that is not accessible for all wheelchair users, the minister of state for Disabled People, Mark Harper, is calling for improvements.

He said: “It is simply unacceptable that in the 21st century more is not being done to make bus stations and stops more accessible to disabled travellers.

“There is little point in making sure buses themselves are accessible, if those who operate the places where people are collected from are not doing what they can to help.”

National Express coaches have a lift built-in for wheelchairs, but it needs three metres clearance from the coach to deploy it.

Herefordshire Council, who own the Commercial Road bus station, insist that it was built 10 years ago according to Disability Discrimination Act requirements, but since then companies have introduced coaches that have wheelchair lifts which require additional space.

Council spokesman Michelle Morgan said: “We would welcome a conversation with National Express to explore options for improving accessibility for the company’s vehicles subject to funding being available.”

Currently, however, there are no plans in place to improve the station, and the council had no comment as to alternatives for wheelchair users looking to travel outside the county on a coach.

David Price, who campaigned with the Herefordshire Wheelchair Service to get better access to shops around Hereford, said it is much easier to travel by rail.

“Not many wheelchair users I know use the facility at the County Bus Station,” he added.

In a statement, National Express said they are looking to reach out to local authorities about improving facilities such as the County Bus Station.

Managing director, Tom Stables, said: “We passionately believe everyone has the right to travel – that’s why we were the first coach company to introduce a wheelchair lift.

“We’ve worked with partners and lobbied to make third-party stations and bus stops more accessible for years and while the situation has improved, over a third of stops are still not accessible to wheelchair users.”

He added that any customers with a mobility impairment or other disability are advised to call National Express at least 36 hours before they are due to travel on 03717 81 81 81.

Alternatively, they can email DPTH@nationalexpress.

com for advice on routes.