National kneeling plan
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DISABLED PEOPLE using bus services have special requirements, and to consider these the National Bus Company has set up a special study group.
The group comprises southeast regional executive Fred Dark, National Travel quality control executive Frank Woodward, and the public relations department's Brian Cooper.
They will also be joined by Claudia Flanders — widow of entertainer Michael Flanders — who is a consultant to NBC on disabled passengers' problems.
Projects such as the "kneelingNational buses will be considered by the group, which will also try to identify areas in which NBC services could be made more responsive to the needs of the disabled.
The "kneeling" project was pioneered by South Yorkshire PTE. It involves modification to the air suspension on a Leyland National to allow the front nearside to be lowered at bus stops, so reducing the step height for disabled passengers.
A local organisation for the disabled and National subsiduary Maidstone and District are sharing the cost of converting a National in NBC service. Plans are now being drawn up for NBCs involvement in next year's International Year for Disabled Persons.