Report from the meeting of 26 July 2007
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.
Ongoing planning consultation considerations this month include domestic premises in Barr, Prestwick and Troon, a holiday park in Barrhill and commercial premises in Ayr. New planning applications include schools in Troon and Ayr, commercial premises in Prestwick and Ayr and a hotel in Maidens.
The Panel were advised that the Shopmobility Scheme has not yet received the funding for which they had applied.
Panel members who visited the Ayr Central Development in Kyle Street reported that there have been three sets of tactile studs fitted; however there are none at the stairs to the car park which are very steep. There are also glass panels at the top of the car park lift which are effectively invisible and may prove a hazzard to the visually impaired. The icons on the lift are not very detailed. Other Panel members will visit the Development and give their views at the next meeting.
A date has been set for the Taxi Drivers Disability Awareness course at Ayr College. It will be held on 1st October. Panel members will attend and report to the meeting.
The Panel were advised that the issue relating to the Ayr - Dundonald bus route has been resolved and this should be operational by the end of September.
Panel members have observed a car carrying a blue badge parked on the tactile paving accross from Bank of Scotland in Ayr High Street and have resolved to draw this to the attention of traffic wardens or police should this continue.
Panel members assessed the steps from the High Street in Ayr to the Old Bridge and did not consider these to be a hazzard as they had handrails and help to provide level entry to the shops.
With regard to the Pavements are for People campaign, it was agreed that placing mobile display boards round local libraries was a good idea.
For the benefit of visually impaired Panel members, everyone will verbally introduce themselves at the start of each meeting from the August meeting onwards.
A Panel member highlighted the Roads and Transportation online questionaire on the South Ayrshire Council web site. It was felt that this would be a good way for Panel members to put their views on this subject accross.
The Panel was alerted to a dangerous bus stop in Troon. Due to parked cars, buses have been unable to use bus bays. Someone has actually been hurt because of this. Passengers are also missing buses as, due to the parked cars, drivers do not see them.
The Panel has been invited to send a representative to to the new Licencing Regulations Forum.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.