Wirral's new publicly-controlled buses, described as among the country's most advanced, have a significant accessibility flaw, according to a local councillor. Cllr Allan Brame, a member of the Wirral Liberal Democrat group, is calling for changes to help less mobile passengers.
The yellow and grey Metro-branded fleet arrived in Wirral last week, coinciding with buses returning to public control on October 25 for the first time in 40 years. Fares and timetables are now set by Mayor Rotheram's Combined Authority, meaning services will be driven by local need rather than commercial profit.
Features praised but problems identified
The UK-built buses include USB charging ports, upgraded comfortable seating, and real-time audio-visual stop announcements. Despite praising these "excellent features," Cllr Brame, who represents Wirral's Oxton ward, says there are problems for some disabled passengers.
The councillor said the buses ought to be changed to help accommodate those who use mobility walkers. He explained that on single-decker buses, the only place for such equipment is the space reserved for wheelchairs, but unlike the old buses, the new ones lack fold-down seats, obliging these passengers to stand throughout the journey.
Call for retrofitting fold-down seats
One resident contacted Cllr Brame about the issue. He said: "One resident contacted me to say this is a big loss for any less mobile passenger who needs to use the space, but isn’t in a wheelchair. Neither is there anywhere for a mum or dad to sit if they have a pram."
He added: "I have contacted the bus team at the Liverpool City Region to see if they will consider retrofitting some fold-down seats on the new single-deckers."
Combined Authority response
A spokesperson for the Combined Authority said: "The new buses operating on the publicly-controlled network in Wirral and St Helens are some of the most advanced and accessible in the country, with additional space for people using wheelchairs and prams and audio-visual announcements of routes and next stops."
The spokesperson added: "We always take on board the views, comments and suggestions of our passengers and are currently looking for even more ways to improve accessibility across our transport network, including on our buses."
