Wheelchair woman denied bus entry

Elaine Powell said she was told her wheelchair's battery could blow up

A bus firm has promised to investigate after a disability campaigner was left stranded when the driver refused to let her on his bus with her wheelchair.

Elaine Powell, 40, from Denbigh, says she and passengers who tried to help were told her wheelchair could blow up.

Ms Powell says she began championing disability rights after a similar incident on the route five years ago.

Bus firm Arriva Cymru said: "We sincerely apologise for any distress caused by this unfortunate incident."

Ms Powell was with her 13-year-old son, Aaron, when the driver told her she would not be let on for the journey to Rhyl.

The bus was fully accessible for wheelchair users but the driver told the former social worker, and people who tried to help her, that the battery in her electric wheelchair was a danger.

Ms Powell, who had a stroke nine years ago, said her son had been left distressed by the incident.

I have often been criticised by other disabled people for my approach over the years, and I think now they might have a point Disability campaigner, Elaine Powell

She said: "He felt quite powerless and was quite upset. He's got enough to cope with as a young carer."

Ms Powell is a former trustee of the Denbighshire Disability Forum and has previously worked with Arriva Cymru officials to improve disability transport services in the county.

She said she was now taking legal advice on suing for discrimination as she felt her efforts to work in partnership with organisations had not brought the improvements she had hoped for.

She said: "I have often been criticised by other disabled people for my approach over the years, and I think now they might have a point.

She has campaigned to improve disability transport in the county

"I started working with [Arriva Cymru] so it wouldn't happen again. I thought a lot had been learnt in that [drivers'] training was updated.

"Working in partnership and trying every other angle hasn't worked. In regards to attitude, very little has changed, from my experience."

In a statement, Arriva Cymru said it was investing £4.25m over three years to improve disabled access and the percentage of low-floor buses in its fleet was well ahead of government targets for all buses in the UK to be wheelchair accessible and fitted with ramps by 2017.

The firm said many of its buses already had ramps fitted, although some were not yet wheelchair accessible.

'Clear policy'

It added 21 new vehicles were introduced into its Welsh fleet in 2007.

A spokeswoman said: "We apologise for the distress that this incident has caused Ms Powell.

"Our policy on such matters is clear, any wheelchair that can fit safely into the wheelchair space will be allowed on to the bus, this includes electric motor wheelchairs with sealed batteries.

"We are investigating the matter fully with the driver concerned."