Report from the meeting of 31 July 2008
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 were notified that the SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations) are compiling a list of voluntary speakers and ask if someone from the Panel could be added to the list. After some discussion, Members concluded that it may be a good way to raise the Panel’s profile.
All previous planning applications are ongoing as no replies have yet been received.
The only new planning application this month requests that a wall hand rail and adjacant guard rail be fitted to the ramp at the proposed new toilet block at Craig Tara Holiday Park, Ayr.
It was reported to the Panel that, sadly, the Shopmobility Scheme would receive no more funding after 2010. The Panel agreed to support them in any way they could.
The matter of safety at the crossings at Hillfoot Road, Ayr and Tesco, Whitletts Road, Ayr is still ongoing.
The Panel were informed that Social Work could not provide someone to regularly attend meetings, but could offer a representative who could provide information and assistance when required.
The Panel had some concerns after learning that a considerable number of public conveniences within South Ayrshire were to be closed. The Panel were informed that fourteen of the eighteen conveniences which remain open are accessible and that, in addition, a “Comfort Scheme” was to be introduced whereby conveniences in shops, cafes and pubs “sponsored” by the Council would be available for general public use. The Panel requested further details on this.
The Panel had raised concerns about the new entrance to the Miller Road car park meaning that the disabled parking bays were now at the 'wrong end' of the car park to access the town easily. The Panel were advised that the Roads Department who plan a new marking layout for the car park which will retain the existing disabled bays at the west end of the car park and provide five additional disabled bays at the east end of the car park. The work should be carried out shortly
The Panel were informed that the procedure to be followed for displaying A-Boards in Ayr had been extended to Prestwick and Troon.
The Panel received communication from the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) who are seeking committee members and a Convenor.
A recent meeting with the Licensing Department and the Taxi Operators Association was held at which Panel members gave their opinions and submitted problems experienced by wheelchair taxi users for consideration by the operators. The taxi Operators Association members expressed dismay at the extent of the problem and have promised to address this as a matter of urgency. The Taxi Operators have requested that Panel members who have had problems attend at an Association meeting to present their experiences in person to underline the seriousness of the current position of disabled taxi users.
A Panel member reported that a Stagecoach bus driver had refused to allow her (in her wheelchair) on to a bus because he did not know how to strap her in. The Panel will approach Stagecoach about this as all drivers should know how to secure a wheelchair.
The Panel were alerted to the danger to visually impaired people of the North Beach Cycle Path which cyclists use without bells.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.