Report from the meeting of 29 July 2010
South Ayrshire Access Panel meets on the last Thursday in each month and tackles issues relating to making the environment, facilities and services in South Ayrshire available to all its residents.
The Panel received an invitation to the 2010 Annual Access Panel Conference in Perth Concert Hall on 8 September 2010.
There were several planning consultations considered by the Panel this month: these include, new residential accommodation at Craigie Estate, Craigie Road, Ayr. The Panel asked if they would consider providing toilet accommodation to provide both left and right hand transfer between the wheelchair and the W.C unit. Also, within the disabled room, will the ceiling structure have sufficient strengths to carry fixings which could carry the weight of a disabled person. And why do the fire doors on the ground floor open against the direction persons escaping to a place of safety. A second planning consultation was for new residential accomodation in Murdochs Lane, Ayr. The Panel requires that the ramp minimum width should be 1200mm with handrails to regulations required. Horizontal platform at the top of ramp 1.20m minimum length, so should be increased to at least 1.5 to give increased space for a wheelchair user, also with the platform, a slight gradient should be provided from level threshold to allow all rain water to run off. The Panel received an application for a change of use of a former amusement arcade entrance to form outdoor seating area for adjacent café in Main Street, Prestwick. . Normally a removable barrier would be provided to define the seating area boundary and this allows visually impaired people to safely negotiate a new hazard. The barrier normally consists of vertical posts with horizontal handrails and low level tapping rails, The Panel asked if this could be provided. The Panel also received an application for alterations and extension to a dwelling house in St Cuthbert's Road, Prestwick. The agent of the job was asked to consider new dimensions for the disabled ramp.
A Panel member reported that Shopmobility closed on 28 July 2010, with the charity shop next door taking over the premises. Scooters have been sold to people who wanted them and the rest are in storage. A Panel member - who had been Chairperson - said that he was taking the Shopmobility staff out for lunch to say thank you for all their hard work.
The Panel do not find the compromise of providing 'stubber pouches' to disabled people who cannot access the new stubbing-out bins in Ayr as an ideal siolution as they would have to obtain them from Council premises at the top of the town in Ayr - not ideal if someone happens to be at the opposite end of the High Street. This subject, it was agreed, would be closed as there does not seem to be any way forward.
The Panel cannot assist with the kerb problems brought up at last month's meeting as, the high kerb at Debenham's in Ayr is near an alternative crossng place and the collapsed kerb at Doonfoot Store is on a private road.
Panel members have been invited to speak at a Princes Royal Owners Trust event in September. This would be a good way of maybe pulling carers into the Panel and to boost the membership numbers. SDEF also sent the Panel some ideas for new leaflets which are being discussed to try to attract new members. Panel members feel that the Panel need to start getting involved with the community a lot more, stress to the public how important the Access Panel is and what they actually do. Maybe an advert in the Ayrshire Post or maybe on the local radio stations; try everything to attract new people to come along and help with what the Panel do.
SDEF sent an e-mail regarding workshops to deal with disabled people’s experiences of design and technology within the home. The aim of the sessions is to find out what works well for people, what doesn’t work well and what thoughts/recommendations may be brought forward for future solutions. There are various workshops taking place all over Scotland, but there is one is Ayr on 23rd September 2010 which would probably suit most of our Panel members. If anyone is interested in attending or even more information, they have to contact Suzanne Crow from the Blackwood Foundation on 0131 317 0176. All travel expenses and support costs are reimburse.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.