Accessibility in Our Community

Today I am joined by my three friends, Amber, Faith and Joel to talk about accessibility in our community.

Ailsa

Amber, Faith and Joel, thank you for joining me in this discussion...

What are your thoughts on accessibility in our community?

Joel

Fairly good to be fair. Central London and Slough are the places I've found worst.

Ailsa

In what way?

Joel

Lack of space, drop curbs and the ignorance/arrogance of the general public there.

Joel

Also I detest Londons stupid, outdated transport system.

Amber

Very bad visibility around corners

When you try and cross the roads.

Ailsa

What about putting double-yellow lines down so that cars can't park in the way?

Joel

People tend to ignore them in busy areas, in my experience.

Ailsa

Can't they be enforced?

Joel

Only by traffic wardens, who are getting less common.

Ailsa

Oh.

Amber

Making people realise how important dropped curbs are for everyone.

Ailsa

Oh.

In conclusion, what do you think can be done to make our community more accessible?

Amber

Most people block the drop cubs by dropping off their kiddies at school.

Ailsa

What could help?

Amber

Pay £1,000 fine and the money goes to us, split equally.

Ailsa

I don't think that would be appropriate.

Anything else?

What about small barriers at each side of the dropped curb?

Amber

Yeah people might move them tho.

Ailsa

Fixed barriers?

Amber

What if they're strong?

Ailsa

They can get fined for criminal damage if they are seen.

In conclusion, what do you think can be done to make our community more accessible? Do the councils do enough to make sure our community is accessible?

Amber

No, the councils don't do enough.

Faith

I think that the big shops like Top shop should have a lift

Ailsa

Don't they already?

Faith

In the Portsmouth store even though they've just redone it there is still no lift so you can't go upstairs it's so frustrating and it means they've lost my custom.

I think wheelchair access has got a lot better but a lot more still needs to be done and the council and big companies could be doing more.

Ailsa

One more thing, Faith: In conclusion, what do you think can be done to make our community more accessible? Do the councils do enough to make sure our community is accessible?

Faith

They could make sure that shops meet the right accessibility needs like lifts.

Amber

They could, at the moment I'm learning bus training and where the wheelchairs have to face backwards, there's nothing to say where the next stop is.

What about making sure we can reach the checkout and go round the store without being blocked

Or maybe they should have one checkout low down so we can reach.

Ailsa

There are very good ideas here guys. That's about it... Thank you for your input Amber, Faith and Joel, it is very much appreciated.

Have a good day.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.

See you next time

Ailsa