Report from the meeting of 27 August 2009
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 has received an advert for a new talking scanner from the company Modern World Data Limited. The equipment comprises an A4 scanner with control pad and costs £895.00.
An invitation has been received from NHS Ayrshire and Arran to attended the 2nd seminar to Improve in Health Care. It takes place at Ayr Racecourse on 18 November 2009.
New planning consultations under consideration by the Panel this month include a request for level access to be provided to the garage at Coodham Estate, Bogend Toll, Symington and, at premises in Seaforth Road, Ayr, a request that more space be provided between the closing side of the door and the wall for easier wheelchair access, in addition to level access to all proposed houses.
The Panel were advised that Shopmobility was very well used at the Flower Show with over a hundred bookings. The Forestry Commission had approached Shopmobility while at the Flower Show and asked if they would be prepared to attend the Galloway Wood festival on 20 August and provide a similar service. It was agreed they would do so. It possibly would not raise funds but would keep Shopmobility in the public eye. Shopmobility is still working hard to keep the service going and it has been intimated that, in the future, it may be possible to combine various social services, including Shopmobility, in a one-stop premises in Ayr.
The Roads Department plan to repair the humps in the High Street over a 4 – 5 week series of Sunday closures starting on 27 September.
The Panel were advised that the traffic lights at the St Andrews Hotel were now working, but those at Heathfield Road were not.
The Panel were alerted to the outside seating at Café Nero creating problems again, with the area covered seeming to be expanding and the barriers not adequately protecting the tables and chairs.
A Panel member reported that the Citadel Leisure Centre in Ayr car park is always full of refuse, and that the disabled parking bays are always full of cars not displaying blue badges. In the past, the Citadel provided a service to wheelchair users whereby the disabled person stopped their car in a specifically reserved bay and pressed a button which permitted the driver to speak with someone at the main reception and request assistance. The receptionist would then organise someone to provide whatever assistance was required. Unfortunately it appears that the button is not operating and that the service is no longer provided.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.