Alton Town Partnership

Contact the Town Partnership by telephone at +44 (0) 1420 549684, by email:
or write to:- The Alton Town Partnership, 66 High Street, Alton, Hampshire. GU34 1ET. UK.

Transport & Travel Information for the Disabled.

Please complete our Transport & Travel Survey


Our transport system plays a crucial role in our society and economy.
We have to balance the requirements of the economy and society with the needs of the environment.



Cango is a New Approach to Public Transport.
Cango is a bus service that can respond to your needs - the route is not fixed, but is flexible and the bus can travel here and there as needed. Cango bus services are available to any member of the public in the operating area.

You can get on the bus at either a 'timed' or 'bookable' stopping point. A 'timed' stopping point is where Cango will definitely stop on each journey. 'Timed' stopping points display a green sign. If you haven't pre-booked your journey you will only be able to get on at a timed stop on the service. You can get on at a 'bookable' stopping point if you have booked your journey in advance. 'Bookable' stopping points will display a yellow sign. Cango will arrange for you to have your own stopping point if there is not a stopping point nearby. This could be say your local pub, garage or shop. To make a booking phone 0845 6024135 and request your journey. Alternatively, once you have registered you can book at http://cango.hants.gov.uk/login.asp You can make bookings even after the bus has set off, as all Cango buses are constantly linked in with our demand centre.

Can I just turn up?
Yes, it is possible to catch the bus at the timed stopping points without pre-booking. To be sure of your place on the bus though, it may be better to book in advance.

What happens if I am a passenger with special needs?
You can use the Cango services because they are operated with vehicles which are low floor and wheelchair accessible, indeed they are the only local buses easily accessible to wheel chair users. The drivers have been trained to help passengers with special needs. If you are mobility impaired Cango can come right to your door - unless you are at Treloars college!.

What do I do now?
Unless you want to get on at a timed stopping point you'll need to register with the Call Centre. To do this phone 0845 6024135 between 8:00am-6:00pm Monday to Friday and 8:00am-4:30pm on Saturday.

What happens after I register?
You will receive a user pack and a password to book your journey on-line. You will also be kept up to date about service developments. We hope that you will also provide us with feedback and tell us how we are doing.

The Alton Cango, covering parts of East Hampshire, Basingstoke and Hart, will have two vehicles rather than three from August 2006 and will not give a direct link to North Hampshire Hospital.

Cango services run in Alton, Burghclere, Andover, Fordingbridge, the New Forest and Romsey. You can access Cango timetables, roam zones and other information by this link:-
http://cango.hants.gov.uk



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Wheelchair access to buildings in Alton
8.6 million people aged 16 or over, 15% of the UK population declare themselves to be disabled.
45,000 public bodies across Great Britain are covered by the Disability Equality Duty (DED). Many of which must have produced and published a Disability Equality Scheme by 4th December 2006. The DED is meant to ensure that all public bodies - such as central or local government, schools, health trusts or emergency services - pay 'due regard' to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.

Because Alton has Treloar College and Treloar School, Alton has a larger than usual disabled population, so it should have country leading disabled facilities.
The following buildings were judged by the Treloar Action Group to have good wheelchair access:-

Sainsbury's Supermarket.
NatWest Bank.
Marks & Spencer Food Store ( Electric Doors).
Woolworths (Electric Doors but limited aisle access).
Boots (Electric Doors but limited aisle space).
Peacocks (Electric Doors but limited aisle access).
Focus Store on the industrial estate.
HSBC Bank (Although there are steps up to the building, there is a bell outside at wheelchair user height to summon assistance.)
The new Alton library has level wheelchair access, automatic doors and a lift to the upper floor.
The Magistrate's Court has reasonable disabled access.
Alton Sports Centre is now disabled friendly.

Alton College buildings are modern and provide excellent access for wheelchair users. The campus is for the most part on a single level throughout. Work is ongoing to further improve accessibility. Lift access has been provided for the Learning Resources Centre, library and to the Sports Building. Accessible toilet facilities exist in each of the main buildings.

Clearly Treloar College has country leading disabled access.

The Swan Hotel has wheelchair access to the ground floor and a disabled toilet.
Alton Grange Hotel and Alton House Hotel both have disabled access.
The Weybridge Pub has good disabled access.
The Allen Gallery has disabled access.
WH Smith was judged to have a heavy door.
At Jane Austen's House in Chawton the ground floor, garden and granary are accessible for wheelchairs.
Gilbert White's House and the Oates Museum have disabled access.
The Alton Maltings Centre has full wheelchair access. There is a level entrance from the car park into the building, and through to the bookshop and café. A lift takes wheelchairs downstairs. There are disabled toilets on both levels.
East Hampshire District Council provides disabled facilities at each of its nine public conveniences. For Alton therse are in the Turk Street Car Park and Lady Place Car Park.
Alton Town Council office has wide doors and a stairlift to its first floor rooms.

Shops which are easily accessible by pushchair or wheelchair users according to an Alton Retail Survey.
They have no steps in and door entry is unrestricted.
Alton Clock ShopAlton Electrical Services LtdAlton Food and Wine
Alton Knitting & Wool CraftAlton MusicLantern Foods
Bon Bon StoresBy GeorgeCarman of Alton Ltd
Caroline B LtdComputeramaDicksons Furnishers Ltd
Leightons OpticiansLight & Day LtdLittle Green Dragon
Melvyn Laslett Home StyleMorelliOutdoor Wild Clothing Co
Porters NewsSecret GardenShelia Betts Flowers
Smart LadyThe Big Balloon CompanyWey Valley Cameras & TV

Alton Health Centre has disabled parking spaces to the front right of the building. The front entrance has a ramp and automatic doors.
All consulting rooms are on the ground floor. The treatment room has a wheelchair for those temporarily unable to walk.
There are disabled toilets in the front entrance. The reception desk has been refurbished to be wheelchair friendly.
There is a lift to the upstairs areas, to the left of the entrance hall.

If you would like your premises to be added to this list, please send an email to comments " at " alton-in-partnership.org (Change the " at " to @)
The most common access problems are steps, heavy doors and too narrow aisles.




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Disabled Travel Information
South West Trains provides a disabled assistance phone at 0800 528 2100. For the hard of hearing the Textphone number is 0800 138 1018. Only 45 out of 275 London Underground stations have wheelchair access. Most such stations are not in central London.

There is a booklet giving advice for disabled rail travellers available from:-
ATOC Marketing (RTDP booklet)
40 Bernard Street,
London WC1N 1BY
or email:- enquiry " at " atoc.org (Change the " at " to @)

A special version of the London underground map is available called the "Tube access guide", which can help people in a wheelchair to plan a Tube journey avoiding stairs and escalators. "Large print" versions of bus and underground maps are available for people who have poor vision.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/maps

Alton Station does not currently have a disabled toilet so be prepared to wait till you can get on the train.
A comprehensive list of disabled and other facilities at Alton Station can be found here
This link will allow to find out about any station you wish to travel to:- http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/

Hampshire's Disability Equality Scheme and guidance is published here. From December 2006 the Disability Discrimination Act says that all public bodies must take steps to eliminate unlawful disability discrimination along with many other similar measures.

Information about the Disabled Person's Railcard is found here
Travel concessions in East Hampshire provide financial support for elderly and disabled people using Public Transport.
The concessions offered include :
  • An annual bus pass which entitles the holder to unlimited free travel on public bus services in Hampshire will be available from 1st April 2007 or
  • A rail exchange voucher which can be exchanged for either for a senior rail or disabled rail card. These cards entitle the holder to a discount of one third of most rail fares or
  • National Transport Tokens to the value of £24, for those aged 60 to 69 and £30 for those aged 70 or over. If you are a wheelchair user, blind or partially sighted, the value of tokens will be increased to £50. Where it is difficult or impossible for you to travel independently and you are a wheelchair user, blind or partially sighted, the tokens will be increased to £75 to allow a nominated carer to travel with you.

    More details can be found be found by clicking on this link http://www.easthants.gov.uk/allservices.nsf/servicesSearchView2/Travel+Concessions+Service+Description,+Standards+&+FAQs?OpenDocument
    There is plenty of useful disabled access information at DisabledGo



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    Alton Transport and Travel Vision

    • Alton and its hinterland villages will be accessible and convenient to residents, workers, commuters and visitors, having an integrated and synchronised public transport system.

    • Improved rail links will reduce commuting time for residents.

    • Reliable, frequent and clean buses that use "on demand" technology will run to outlying villages during the day and the late evening.

    • A new road layout will be in place, alleviating current traffic pressure points and making the town centre more accessible.

    • Alton overall will be accessible and convenient for residents, workers, commuters and visitors, using either private or public transport.

    • Alton will be accessible and convenient for the disabled.


    ATPs Sustainable Transport Policy     is here.

    Hampshire County Council Structure Plan is here and here is its Transport Plan.



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    Last Change - August 2008

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