Report from the meeting of 29 June 2006
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 ShopMobility Scheme had been well attended throughout May with a total of 319 bookings. This included 236 bookings of the minibus and 57 bookings at the Mobile Unit. Altogether, the ShopMobility Scheme has 3934 users registered throughout the South Ayrshire area. ShopMobility plans to hold a fundraising tombola at Ayr Flower Show in August.
The Access Panel's Pavements are for People campaign continues to strive for pavements and pedestrian access routes to be kept clear of obstructions. The concerns of obstructions to disabled people using these thoroughfares have been passed on by the Access Panel to Annabel Goldie, MSP. The Chairman will contact Edinburgh and Elgin Access Panels, also experiencing problems with obstruction of pedestrian areas, to pass on information about what is currently happening in South Ayrshire. . The Panel was alerted again to the probability of problems, both for disabled people and able bodied, as the Government proceeds with its plans for pedestrians and cyclists to share a number of footpaths, with just a white line to separate these different users.
The now published Access Guide to disabled access to premises in Ayr Town Centre was under discussion again. This month centred on publicity by means of West Sound and the newspapers, to let folk know that the Access Guide is now available throughout the South Ayrshire Council area. The Panel were informed that after viewing this guide, Durham Access Panel are to refresh their own version.
After a meeting of Panel members with two representatives of Taxi Licensing, it is confirmed that the licensed taxis currently in use are not built to carry electric wheelchairs, only standard, manual models. The Panel was informed that strengthening of the legislation affecting carriage of wheelchairs will occur in December of this year. And finally the Access Panel heard how a member is now monitoring the audio and visual information on First Scotrail trains after meeting with their Access Manager, who took on board a number of access and mobility issues presented to him.
Problems encountered for disabled people accessing the new Ayr Central Development have been detailed and forwarded by the panel to Mr Ian MCLarty, Head of Planning and Building Standards. Another approach was made to the developers, Henry Boot Developments Ltd., requesting that more defined contrast be applied to some of the street furniture in the development to heighten the visibility of these obstacles.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.