One of UK's smallest airports makes transformation after being slammed by charity

A small airport on a British island has been transformed after it was slammed by a disability charity.

Jim Hopley, chair of the Jersey Disability Partnership told the BBC the airport was "not up to modern standards" after Ports of Jersey announced it had started work to improve its terminals and make them more accessible.

The Jersey government's Jersey Visitor Economy Strategy, published in December, found arriving on the island was not always a positive experience, with customer service and public transport often failing to reach customers' expectations.

But now Ports of Jersey has said it will increase the number of staff on the arrivals floor helping passengers with disabilities.

Mr Hopley said it was not just about supporting those in wheelchairs but also those with sight issues, hearing impairments and mental illness.

Ports of Jersey, which runs the island's airport, claims it is working with Visit Jersey to "bring more Jerseyness" into the "arrivals experience".

The company's Chief Operating Officer Stephen King says the needs of disabled people are a "very important" part of the plan, with support staff set to be employed directly rather than through agencies.

He intends improvements to be visible "within weeks", telling the BBC the company was working hard to "provide a personal service" to passengers and had received feedback that some people were "more confident to travel" as a result.

One of the ways the experience will be improved is with a new form allowing people to discuss disability issues at the terminal, which Mr Hopley welcomed.

Stephen Chapman, 66, and his disabled wife, who flew to Jersey from Belfast recently told the national broadcaster the airport was "compact" and had "great facilities for coming off the aircraft".

He said there were plenty of assistants on hand and the ramps helped his wife, who uses a stick to walk.

Scott Moultrie, 51, who flew to Jersey for a job interview added "You don’t land and go, 'wow', but it’s the people that make it special."

Ports of Jersey said it had only recently taken over responsibility for passenger assistance at the airport and said it has since introduced a number of new schemes to help the disabled.

A spokeswoman told the Express: " There were already schemes in place to support people with disabilities, but changes made have improved services for people with all kinds of disabilities."

The changes include new staff training, a new assisted travel lounge, the purchase of a new Amblift, the creation of its own disability forum, new wheelchairs and the introduction of sensory bags.

The cost of improvement works at Jersey Airport has not been revealed.