Report from the meeting of 30 October 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 advised that the SDEF AGM is on the 8th December at Beancross Farm, Polmont, Falkirk.
The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is holding an event on Friday 7th November at Oban. The Commission is working to eliminate discrimination, protect human rights and build good relations, ensuring everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.
The Panel were advised that Jackie Baillie is taking a member’s bill through the Scottish Government designed to ensure that all disabled parking places in Scotland are legally enforceable. She is requesting that as many people as possible send postcards (which can be obtained from her) to the Parliament to prove support for the Bill. 15-20 postcards on behalf of the Access Panel have been requested.
There is going to be a Troon town centre regeneration consultation workshop.The workshop is on Wednesday 12th November at either 2.30pm or 5.30pm and Vincent Lasseax should be contacted with confirmation of attendance.
Ongoing planning consultation considerations this month include South Beach, Troon who will errecti satety fencing around the proposed seating area. The fencing will prevent blind and partially sighted persons from walking into the proposed table layout, making the layout safer for both the pedestrians and the customers. There has been no reply as yet from any others.
New planning applications include a request for hinging on the opposite side of a door at permises in Arthurston Terrace, Coylton to make this accessible to wheelchairs which require a minimum of 300mm clear space between the wall and the opening side of any door to allow free space to open the door towards them. The Panel requested that the proposed Training Centre at Pathfinder Ltd, Dundonald can be provided with level access and a toilet suitable for disabled users. Finally this month, the Panel issued a request that the ground floor of Burnside Cottage, Barrhill, Girvan have level or ramped access.
Ayr Shopmobility have some new committee members and are approaching some other organisations for help with transport. Future funding is still an issue.
The Panel were advised that funding is being sought to reconstruct Ayr High Street and make it a safer environment for pedestrians. In addition, Waste Management have been asked to place bins at the 'downstream' side of crossing places.
A Panel member reported that the disabled toilet in Subway, Main Street, Prestwick is inaccessible due to bins and display boards. The Panel will monitor the situation to see if their request for improvements has been carried out.
The Panel were advised that the Roads Department were making every effort to eliminate the problem of A-Boards in Alloway Street, Ayr. The Council have served notices on 66 premises since the beginning of this year for the removal of such boards. The problem is that some are privately owned and not the responsibility of South Ayrshire Council.
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.