Report from the meeting of 31 August 2006
South Ayrshire Access Panel meets on the last Thursday in each month and tackles issues relating to making the South Ayrshire environment, facilities and services available to all its residents.
A guest speaker was present at this meeting: the director of Equality Plus who provide equality and diversity training and also consultancy services. Equality Plus are working with Paisley University to develop their Disability Equality Scheme and, in addition to staff and students at the various campuses, wish to consult the wider community. Panel members then commented on facilities at Ayr College; in particular, the pedestrian crossing and uneven access to the College entrances, the limited disabled access around the building, as well as the lack of disabled WC facilities. The Provost informed the Panel that there are plans to upgrade the College building, including WC provision. Equality Plus will keep the Access Panel informed of planned developments.
This month the Access Panel Planning Consent considerations included disabled access provision to a Church in Prestwick Road, eating and drinking premises in High Street and Sandgate , a bank in Sandgate, a bar in Troon and a holiday home development.
The Panel discussed plans to display and hand out copies of their new Accessible Ayr guide on a day in September in the Kyle Centre, Ayr. With this in mind, the Panel then heard of a site visit to a bank in Prestwick; noting that, following work inside the premises to comply with Disability Discrimination Act requirements, the entrance to the building was still not accessible.
Correspondence had been received from the developers of the new Ayr Central development in which they indicated their agreement to a site meeting to discuss any concerns the Access Panel have regarding the new development.
Further discussion took place regarding the carrying of wheelchair users in taxis. It was again stated that wheelchairs and their users must be properly restrained to comply with insurance requirements. South Ayrshire Council Licensing Monitoring Officer has information on which types of wheelchair can be carried in taxis and any complaint or query in this regard should be directed to this person.
And finally, the decision was made to investigate the disabled toilet facilities in South Ayrshire further at our next meeting. Watch this space.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.