About Us
South Ayrshire Access Panel campaigns
The Panel aims to ensure that those involved in the design of new buildings or reconstruction and adaptation work meet the needs of disabled people in the South Ayrshire area and has had success in so doing.
Improved Ayr town centre access for disabled people
A major campaign led to an increase in access to disabled amenities in Ayr Town Centre:- including toilets, parking and the reduction of street furniture such as advertising boards.
The panel were instrumental in the establishment of the highly successful disabled shoppers service. Ayr Shopmobility (Tel: 01292 618086). This service provides manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters on loan free of charge and provides trained volunteers to act as shopping companions.
Transport and pedestrian crossings
Dropped kerbs and tactile paving were increased and the time allowed for a person to cross was increased. Many crossings in Ayr also now have spinning cones fitted so a visually impaired person can tell when it is safe to cross.
Improvements to bus signage on Stagecoach buses were brought about by the Access Panel in South Ayrshire for the benefit of people with a visual impairment, many of whom found these difficult to read. Along with this, the Panel advised First ScotRail staff to announce each station on the train for the benefit of visually impaired passengers who may not be able to see the signs in the stations, especially when it is dark.
Leisure
A survey of all South Ayrshire facilities will result in money being targeted where it is needed most to improve disabled amenities.
Each year the panel are involved in ensuring that issues relating to disabled people are included in all the major events that come to South Ayrshire.
The panel is consulted on all planning applications submitted to South Ayrshire Council. We try to ensure that the needs of the disabled community are met.
Ayr Hospital
The Access Panel, along with South Ayrshire Forum On Disability, attend The Disability Forum and their successes have included: wheelchair parking at Accident & Emergency, additional disabled parking for orange/blue badge holders, wheelchair user's assistance callpoint and valet parking service.
Great successes for the Access Panel and wheelchair users in South Ayrshire.
Ongoing projects
- Accessible public transport for all. Disabled people should have the same opportunity as able-bodied people to move around independently.
- Disabled awareness training for all taxi drivers in South Ayrshire.
- Better parking for orange/blue badge holders.
- Disabled parking bays at all existing RADAR toilets.
.South Ayrshire Access Panel is supported by South Ayrshire Council.