Report from the meeting of 29 April 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.
Planning Consultations this month under consideration by the Panel include a request that the toilet pedestal should be placed on the South wall which would make it easier for wheelchair users to open the door outwards at premises in Main Street, Prestwick. The Panel also asked about the access at the main entrance stating that the external doors should be arranged to open outwards since opening them inwards may cause an obstruction in the event of a fire. The architect will comply. Regarding premises at Lichtenfels Gardens, Prestwick, the Panel asked if the two toilets close to the lounge be constructed to provide right and left hand transfer between the wheelchair and the toilet unit, including suitable handrails, or provide each toilet with right or left hand transfer. Also could third toilet be provided with W.C pan and wash basin hand/face dryer. As for the access the Panel asked if both handrails to the proposed ramp/stair be continuous throughout it’s length with a start and finish projection of at least 300mm terminating at ground level or ramped into the wall. Stair/ramp access could the bottom and top of the stair have a tactile surface to indicate to a blind person a transition point between a level surface, step or ramp occurs.
In an attempt to tackle the litter problem in Ayr town centre, the Panel were advised by South Ayrshire Council that new bins have been placed in the High Street with cigarette ashtrays attached to the top of them and they seem to be working effectively. But at over £500 per unit, these bins are quite expensive to buy. The Council are in discussion with suppliers to see if they can offer a design which provides improved access for disabled users and that they would keep the Panel advised on progress. During the ast year there were 150 penalty notices served and that some of these were issued for cigarette litter.
The Panel are looking in to access issues at the Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr, where disabled parking bays are being used by the general public as parking bays are short.
The Panel were advised that Environmental Health has been contacted about the issue of litter and broken glass lying about the carpark behind Morrisons in Ayr and is being dealt with.
The Panel received an invitation to Auchincruive, Oswald Hall on 30th April 2010 for the Kay 9 Partners. More information can be obtained from Panel members.
SDEF are holding a conference on 8th September 2010 for all Access Panel’s to attend. More details will be given nearer the time.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.