11 replies to this topic

[silone74]

Hi does any body have any info on access for a wheelchair to get into a public park as the council have just put a new fence around the local park and new gates that are swing gates and I can not fit through the gap in my chair can any body recomend the best course of action to get the gates to be wheelchair accessable?


I have searched and found the disrimination act 2010 and it is covered in that so i will be phoning the council tomorrow



Si

Edited by silone74, 16 August 2011 - 06:05 PM.

[ZEN12many]

I would start with your Public Works Department that is in charge of the park. They obviously made a mistake that they may want to fix right away once you point out the problem.

If that doesn't produce results, write or email your council member about the problem.

If that doesn't work, show up at a council meeting and ask to speak.

If that doesn't work, talk to the newspaper.

[Tinbasher]

silone74, on 16 August 2011 - 05:44 PM, said:

Hi does any body have any info on access for a wheelchair to get into a public park as the council have just put a new fence around the local park and new gates that are swing gates and I can not fit through the gap in my chair can any body recomend the best course of action to get the gates to be wheelchair accessable?


I have searched and found the disrimination act 2010 and it is covered in that so i will be phoning the council tomorrow



Si

Your question should be " Can I see the Disability Impact Assessment for this work"?

[wheeliebear75]

Hope you get it fixed! I loved taking my son to the park to fly kites!

[silone74]

Well what can i say, because the workers where finishing some of the fence off i went to them and showed them what the problem was and then the foreman turns up and they are widening it as i type, couldn't believe how easy that was if only every thing was that easy and i was talking to the planning office this morning about it and just thought i would pop down to try and see who the contracters where i never expected them to be still there.




Si

[ZEN12many]

Great! Your quick response is what made it easy.

[silone74]

I have been in the park today i am glad i spoke to the guys working there well i am glad they where there to speak to.

Si

[ZEN12many]

Si
Besides making the park accessible for you and for many others who also might frequent the park in the future, you also educated the members of a work crew. I bet they never forget this. On future jobs, if the gates look too narrow, one of those crew members is going to say something.

A great seed you've planted.

[Soryfam]

Hey, that's great that they took care of it right away. Good for you for speaking up, and for the city for being responsive. I love a happy ending!


Sandy

[t4_5para]

When doing changes, they should allow access gate of 36"'s, that is what is needed to acces to council/government properties, local amenities, not just buildings, are included.

Well done to the contractors for doing alterations though, there are meny who wouldn't.

[silone74]

There are two gates to the park and when i spoke to the guys doing the fence they moved the posts to the one i told them about and i just thought they would do the same to the second gate but i have just been today and it seems they only widened the one i complained about I really thought they would seeing as they are the same kind of gate widen both at the same time but no just the one????
Just to add my chair is 28" at the widest point so they are well below the 36" they are meant to be.





Si

Edited by silone74, 20 August 2011 - 06:27 PM.

[t4_5para]

silone74, on 20 August 2011 - 06:24 PM, said:

There are two gates to the park and when i spoke to the guys doing the fence they moved the posts to the one i told them about and i just thought they would do the same to the second gate but i have just been today and it seems they only widened the one i complained about I really thought they would seeing as they are the same kind of gate widen both at the same time but no just the one????
Just to add my chair is 28" at the widest point so they are well below the 36" they are meant to be.





Si

You complain about something, contractors may sort it but, they are only paid to do the work they are told. The DDA and associated parts doesn't acutally state how many or if all access point have to be accessible, there just has to be access.

There in be the problem with badly written and defined legislation. It's easier to complain about race/sex/religious descrimination, than it is Disability, so vague is the way it's written.

Edited by t4_5para, 20 August 2011 - 11:40 PM.