Former Team GB wheelchair fencer Matthew Campbell-Hill (pictured) has been appointed as the new Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) by the Department for Transport.
In this role, he will represent the needs of disabled people on the UK’s transport network and advise the government on the rights of passengers, while ensuring accessibility in transport projects.
Matthew brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as a non-executive director at DVSA and held a non-executive director position at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. He also played a key role in a government-commissioned review aimed at improving diversity within the public appointments process.
Matthew takes over from outgoing Chair Keith Richards, who held the position for eight years.
His appointment comes at a critical time as DPTAC continues to be involved with the review of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), the findings of which are due to be published this year.
Commenting on his appointment, Matthew says: “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chair of DPTAC. As a seasoned traveller with lived experience of disability, I am looking forward to working with the excellent team in place to help them continue to share their expertise with the government.
“The transport landscape has rapidly evolved in recent years, and I am passionate about leveraging this momentum to improve accessibility and inclusiveness across the UK’s transport network. I would like to thank Keith Richards for his tireless efforts ensuring that all disabled people and their carers have had representation at the highest political levels.”
Peter Bradley, Managing Director of UKCOA, has expressed hope that the previously supportive views of DPTAC will continue under Matthew’s leadership. “Keith understood the complicated reasons as to why many coach operators struggled to meet compliance with PSVAR, helping them to understand how we get from where we are to where we need to be,” he says. “That opened a lot of doors. DPTAC was equally supportive of the fact that the coach industry took that view, accepting that the industry wasn’t going to be able to comply in a short space of time due to the large number of vehicles that needed to be retrofitted at that stage, and the cost of doing so. Matthew will have a definite role to play as part of the ongoing review.”
Roads and Local Transport Minister Richard Holden has also welcomed Matthew’s appointment, stating: “Everyone deserves the right to get from A to B with ease and DPTAC plays a vital role helping us ensure equal access to travel in the UK. I’m delighted to welcome Matthew as the new Chair. His background speaks for itself in his breadth of experience and I look forward to working closely with him in the coming months.”
