Arriva Trains Wales: Ben Davies, of Arriva Trains Wales, attended the January meeting to discuss access to trains and train stations in Wales. Among the improvements which will be rolled out under the National Stations Improvement Programme from this year are:

• Audio visual information screens at every train station in Pembrokeshire.

• A raised platform (Harrington Hump) at Pembroke station.

• Completely refurbished train carriages with extra wheelchair spaces, new accessible toilets, more seats with extra space for leg room and ease of use.

• Regular staff training and re-training on disability issues.

• New lifts at many stations, including Cardiff which will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Ten per cent of all car parking spaces at stations will now be larger Blue Badge spaces.

• Swansea Station is now being completely upgraded to be more accessible to disabled people.

Lively discussion took place throughout the presentation and group members found the exchange very informative and useful. They were also able to pass on useful information about train usage by disabled people which Arriva Trains Wales' will use to inform future improvements.

Consultations: Amongst the recent consultations which the group are considering or are aware of are:

• Pembrokeshire Coast national Park (PCNPA) consultation on their Draft Plan for the promotion and sustainable management of recreation in the National Park and surrounding inshore waters.

• Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) public consultation on Disability Living Allowance Reform.

• The reform of the Blue Badge Scheme in Wales.

• Call for evidence on Commissioning of Funding on Care Support in England.

• Paying for Care in Wales: Green Paper consultation on options for reform.

Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services is hoping to set up a consultation event to respond to some of these issues.