A DISABLED rights activist has slammed a court hearing which ruled one of the region's largest bus operators had not breached equality laws over wheelchair access.

Gordon Pybus, chairman of the Darlington Association on Disability, has spoken out in support of disabled people who took the Arriva North East to court over claims they had been refused access to Arriva buses because able-bodied passengers had taken the wheelchair spaces.

The county court hearing in Teesside on Wednesday ruled that Arriva North East had not breached the Equality Act, although Judge Peter Bowers did tell the company to make adjustments to ensure wheelchair users are not unduly disadvantaged.

Mr Pybus said the ruling made a mockery of Government legislation introduced more than a decade ago which stipulates that by 2020 all buses, coaches and double deckers must be wheelchair accessible.

He said: “What is the point in making sure that every single bus has wheelchair spaces if the bus companies are under no obligation by law to make sure that those spaces are reserved for wheelchairs, not for buggies and prams?

“We have got to give disabled people and wheelchair users more confidence about using public transport.

“But if you are a wheelchair user and you know there is only one space allocated for you, and if that space is taken by someone else and there’s nothing the driver will do about that, how confident are you going to be about taking the bus? Not at all.”

One of the measures recommended to Arriva North East by Judge Bowers was to set up a bus hotline for disabled users.

A company spokeswoman said it was too early to say exactly what that service would entail, but Mr Pybus is angry that a hotline has even been suggested.

“No other bus user is expected to ring a bus before they get on it, it is ridiculous to expect wheelchair users to have to,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Arriva said the company had no further comment to make, other than a statement released by managing director Nigel Featham after the judgement was announced.

Mr Featham said the company welcomed the judgement, but was disappointed that the matter had reached court.

He added: “We are always open and willing to discuss issues affecting people with disabilities to help make public transport even more accessible wherever possible.”