Cash bid for the blind (From Swindon Advertiser)

Cash bid for the blind

2:50pm Thursday 25th September 2008 in

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AN increase in the amount of money given to blind people in Swindon to help them travel will be debated by councillors tonight.

The Lib Dem group will raise a motion calling for the council to support a national campaign by the Royal National Institute of Blind People to secure a higher rate in the mobility allowance for blind people.

The motion asks the council to recognise that blind people in Swindon experience significant barriers to independent mobility, and often find it difficult to access basic services.

It recommends that the leader of the council and the chief executive write to the secretary of state for work and pensions to express the council’s support for the campaign.

Coun Stan Pajak, who will move the motion at tonight’s full council meeting, said: “This is a national campaign by the RNIB, which is being taken up by councils around the country, and it’s something we should be supporting.

“We live in a visual world and if you haven’t got your sight it makes things incredibly difficult. Almost everything we do involves using our sight and that includes moving around. If we can help make life a bit better for blind people in Swindon, then that’s something we should support.”

The lower rate of the mobility component of the Disability Allowance is £17.75. Supporters of the campaign say the higher rate of £46.75 would help blind people live a more independent life.

Mike Beale, the branch secretary of the Wiltshire Blind Association, said he is fully supportive of the idea.

He said: “It would make a significant difference for those people on the mobility allowance. Many people like to be independent and to use public transport, but if they don’t live near a bus stop, what are they supposed to do?

“For some of them they end up taking a taxi, which becomes very expensive over time. In the current economic climate I would describe myself as hopeful about this campaign.”

Another issue that Mike hopes will be debated by the council is the use of the talking book service for blind people in Swindon.

He said: “Wiltshire County Council will pay £75 for people to have the book service, but in Swindon that isn’t happening.

“With the new central library opening, this needs to be looked at, but all we hear is that there’s no money for it.”