Wheelchair and buggy users have been around Frome town centre to assess how easy it is to get about as part of the ‘Access for All’ project led by Fair Frome.
On a route planned and led by Fair Frome volunteer Karen Stewart, herself a wheelchair user, that took in the Market Yard, Westway Centre, Cork Street, Market Place, Cheap Street, King Street and Saxonvale, the users assessed how easy it was to navigate pavements, dropped kerbs and doorways into shops and other business premises.
The group was joined by the Mayor, cllr Toby Eliot who experienced first-hand what it is like to power a wheelchair around the streets. He said, “Unsurprisingly, this was a real eye opener. Not only was it hard physical work, but I had to concentrate on my immediate environment all of the time. Even the slightest camber was challenging. I had to think about the town centre in a way that I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t been in the chair. I recommend anybody to give it a go.”
Peter Wheelhouse, economic development & regeneration manager clerk, observed the exercise as part of the planning for the town council’s remodelling of the Market Place.
Feedback from the day and the earlier Access For All session will be provided at a special event to be held at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 6th June from 10 – 2 pm with a free lunch provided. This is sponsored by Gracewell Nursing Home, Frome, and will be for people looking to get actively involved in the Access for All project. The event is free and all are welcome.
For further information on the Access for All project and to register for the next event, please contact Wendy Miller-Williams at wendy@fairfrome.org or on 07714 587129.
