A CAMPAIGNER'S hope to secure a fair deal for disabled people travelling on coaches was given a boost after Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden met Minister of Transport Glenda Jackson.

Miriam Greer, of Charles Street, Blackpool, set up the campaign in the summer, after she was unable to go on a coach trip to Spain because the company would not let her have the front seat which she needs for her leg held in a caliper.

She collected a petition of more than 5,000 names from people all over the country and took them down to Downing Street in an attempt to get the law strengthened to give disabled people a fair deal when travelling.

Since then, Gordon Marsden MP has taken up her cause, writing to the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Association of British Travel Agents.

Most recently, he met with Glenda Jackson to highlight the issue and to canvass her support.

He said: "I think it has made her personally more aware of the problems and she has given support in principle in overcoming problems Miriam Greer and others face.

"Now it is up to the industry and government to come up with a scheme to make life easier for disabled people."

He is hoping that the Government will give parliamentary time in the new year to work on strengthening the Disability Discrimination Act, so that it will lay down rules saying that disabled people cannot be discriminated against when travelling on coaches.

He added: "Personally, I would like to see a priority system in place whereby disabled people can reserve specific seats in advance that will allow them to travel."

Miriam said: "That's all we are asking for, that if you are disabled you can book a seat. That's what I wanted earlier this year but couldn't get.

"Glenda Jackson is a very nice lady, so if we have her support we must be on the right road.

"All the people who signed the petition keep asking me what is happening and when the law is going to be changed.

"It's good to know things are happening and going the right way."

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