Report from the meeting of 24 June 2010
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 examined a planning application for premises at Heathfield Road/Lochside Road where the Panel requested changing the start position of the ramp to the high side of the slope as this would reduce the total rise of the ramp from 700mm to 400mm.
The Panel were aware that Shopmobility is closing at the end of July. It is likely that the charity shop that sits at the end of the row of shops where Shopmobility is based will be taking over the premises. The Panel is hoping that with all the support of members etc, there could be a re-launch of Shopmobilty early next year.
With regard to the bins in the town centre, the Panel were advised that there is no alternative design available at the present time. Suppliers are presently looking into this and will provide further advice in due course. In the meantime, the Council’s supply of ‘stubber pouches’ is being replenished and will be available to disabled persons upon request and free of charge at the Council’s Burns House reception in Burns Statue Square, Ayr. Alternatively, They would be happy to provide the Access Panel with a small supply for local distribution. The purpose of the ‘stubber pouch’ is self explanatory; smokers stub out their cigarette or cigar in the pouch (which will hold a number of butts) and empty this into a litter bin when convenient / accessible.
Regarding the abuse of the disabled parking bays in the car park behind Morrisons in Ayr, the Panel were advised that, although it is not an offence to park in these without a badge, it is only courtesy not to do so. There is a new traffic act coming into force next year which will be dealing with a lot of disabled issues.
Panel members had concerns about the changeover from Dial-a-bus to MyBus. A Panel member who is a wheelchair user had difficulties just getting into the bus with the ramp being so steep, due to the driver failing to check it had been lowered sufficiently. In addition, the Panel member wasn’t happy with the way the wheelchair was secured in the bus, showing an obvious lack of staff training. She then moved into the second wheelchair space, facing forward to show that, when secured, she could not reach the red panic button for the driver’s attention. She mentioned it was a shame that people using wheelchairs were not asked for input at the earlier stage of the vehicle design and perhaps these issues could have been brought up before the bus was actually constructed. The Panel member informed Linda Gold (DRT Customer Support Officer) at the time of all her concerns. Linda informed her that they give Disability training to all the drivers. The Panel member was surprised to hear this, especially after what she had just observed and mentioned SA Access Panel involvement with SAC Taxi Drivers.
A Panel member reported that there is a large kerb outside Debenhams at the Ayr Central shopping site in Ayr. When she is going in her wheelchair – the kerb is just too steep and she needs to go away down Kyle Street, cross the road to come away back up the other side of the street. It was also mentioned that there is a problem on the private road behind Doonfoot Store. The kerb has collapsed into the ground and this road cannot be accessed by a disabled scooter.
A Panel member informed the Panel that at the beginning of June he sent a letter on behalf of the Panel to the Carers Centre in hope to recruit some new members for the Panel. As yet he has not had a response but has received an invitation for the Panel to speak at a meeting in September, but a date has still to be advised.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.