This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
25/04/2002
The first appointments to a new Committee that will
examine the transport needs of disabled people were
announced today.
The new Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
(MACS) will act as an advisory body looking at transport
issues affecting disabled people. This will include
examining how accessible transport is and providing
suggestions for practical improvements.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"I attach great importance to the establishment of MACS
as it will help give disabled people the independence and
freedom which other people might take for granted.
"I am very pleased to announce the appointment of
Margaret Hickish as MACS' first Convener. She and the nine
other members appointed today will bring to MACS a
combination of experience in the disability and transport
fields.
"It is vital that we have a transport system in Scotland
that is accessible to everybody, including those with
disabilities. MACS will make a real contribution to
ensuring that our transport policies do not discriminate
against disabled people by giving them an opportunity to
air their views on Scotland's transport system
directly."
Reflecting statutory requirements, the Convener of MACS
and more than half its members are disabled people. The
Convener and members of MACS will be appointed for a period
of 3 years up to March 2005. It will meet around four times
a year plus hold working group meetings, in which MACS
members will participate, to consider specific issues.
The full list of members is:
Margaret Hickish (Convener), a wheelchair
user, has been a Senior Access Consultant with Buro Happold
Engineers Ltd and has advised the Holyrood Project since
December 2000. She was previously employed as a
Development Manager with the Adapt Trust and as a Quality
Assurance Manager with the Ministry of Defence.
Hilary Davies is retired and is involved in voluntary
work in the fields of sight loss and disability equality.
She has an extensive background as a social worker and
trainer in local authority and voluntary organisations and
as a University lecturer. Ms Davies has held a number of
other public appointments as a member of both the Executive
"Sensing Progress" Focus Group (1997-8) and Working Group
on Certification and Registration (1998-9). She is also a
current member of the Scottish Parliament Access
Consultation Group. Hilary Davies is visually impaired.
Jean Dunlop, who is a wheelchair user, has
a record of achievement working in the disability field in
Ayrshire. Mrs Dunlop is a Disability Equality Awareness
trainer, the Vice-Chair of the Scottish Accessible
Information Forum, Chair of FAB Scotland and a former
member of the National Transport Forum for Scotland. Mrs
Dunlop is also a member of the Disabled Persons' Transport
Advisory Committee, the UK government's statutory adviser
on the transport needs of disabled people (since 1996).
John Feehan, who has learning
difficulties, has demonstrated commitment and persistence
for improvements for disabled people, especially in the
development of ENABLE's Help Card Scheme, which will be
launched later this year, to assist people with learning
disabilities to access public transport.
Ewan Jones is the Rural Services Director
for the Community Transport Association which involves him
overseeing strategic rural development issues and working
extensively on rural transport development in Scotland. Mr
Jones has worked in the community transport sector since
1984, having been responsible for the establishment and
management of a range of services to develop increased
accessibility to the public transport network. His current
responsibilities include development of rural support and
network services and supporting groups applying to The
Scottish Executive's rural funding scheme, the Scottish
Rural Community Transport Initiative.
Mairi O'Keefe has undertaken a wide
variety of management roles working for BAA Scottish
Airports, most recently as a change manager and has had
special responsibility for people with disabilities.
Tom Lister, who is mobility-impaired, is a
Senior Access Consultant with the JMU Access Partnership
and is a current member of the Scottish Accessible
Transport Alliance. Mr Lister is a former member (1997-8)
of the Rail Users Consultative Committee (RUCC) and
currently takes part in the Scottish Executive's Walking
Forum (since 1998).
Roderick McLeod is a part-time computing
consultant and, since May 1999, has been an Independent
Councillor with Orkney Islands Council, on which he serves
as a member of the Transportation and Social Work and
Housing Committees. He has a keen interest in rural and
island transport matters, particularly in relation to the
needs of disabled people. Mr McLeod is also a member of the
Orkney Children's Panel Advisory Committee.
Trevor Meadows, who is disabled, has been
Team Leader for Accessible and Community Transport with
Fife Council since 1996. Mr Meadows, who has worked on
accessible transport issues in Bulgaria and Norway, was the
Co-ordinator of the first national pilot project which
identified the nature and scale of mobility handicap before
going on to become the Director of the National Advisory
Unit for Community Transport between 1982 and 1994. He was
appointed as member and then technical observer to the UK
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (1986-94),
and was a member of the European Council of Ministers of
Transport Working Group on Transport for People With
Mobility Handicaps (1987-94).
Alan Rees MBE until his retirement in 1993
was the Assistant Director of the Edinburgh Voluntary
Organisations' Council. He is now the Secretary of the
Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA) and until
recently was the Chairman of Handicabs Lothian. Mr Rees
was a member of the Transport /Rail Users Committees for
Scotland from 1987-98.
Other Public Appointments held
Margaret Hickish has been a member of the Royal Fine Art
Commission for Scotland, since April 2001. This post is
unremunerated.
Jean Dunlop is a member of the Disabled Persons'
Transport Advisory Committee, the UK government's statutory
adviser on the transport needs of disabled people (since
1996). This post is unremunerated.
Tom Lister is a former member (1997-8) of the Rail Users
Consultative Committee (RUCC). This post was
unremunerated.
Roderick McLeod is also a member of the Orkney
Children's Panel Advisory Committee, which is an
unremunerated post.
Trevor Meadows was a member and then technical observer
to the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee
(1986-94). These posts were unremunerated.
Mr Rees was a member of the Transport /Rail Users
Committees for Scotland from 1987-98. This post was
unremunerated.
Political Affiliation.
Nine of the 10 MACS members have no political
affiliation. Mr Roderick McLeod has obtained office as an
Independent Local Councillor and is an ordinary member of
the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party.
The next round of appointments to MACS will take place
in 18 months time to maintain continuity of
membership. None of the posts held on MACS are
remunerated. All members will receive travel and
subsistence expenses in connection with their duties.