A GROUP of disabled residents say their quality of life is severely impacted due to inaccessible pavements across Bexhill.
They say the lack of drop kerbs, bad patching work and sinkholes prevent them from getting around the town with one resident scared to go out as the pavements aren’t ‘fit for purpose’.
Residents with mobility issues were invited to participate in a survey of the pavements around central Bexhill today (Monday), highlighting the areas causing them problems.
Wheelchair user, John Lee, told Bexhill News: “The pavements around here need a lot of work, you really need to put a lot of effort into planning how to get into town as navigating the drop kerbs and lumps and bumps on the pavements is terrible.
We just went down to one place and there were about ten water metres and it was like a cavern. It’s the accessibility around them which was really difficult, so that is the problem we are facing as wheelchair users. I have a crushed disc at the base and the top of my spine and all the bumping around makes it extremely painful.”
Councillor Christine Bayliss who organised the survey says the lack of investment in the local pavements is to blame. She said: “Today has been a really good exercise as we’ve highlighted a huge number of areas that need attention. As a demographic, Bexhill has a large number of wheelchair and mobility scooter users – we met lots of today’s survey who all said they have issues getting around the town.
I hope that some of the money that’s been confirmed for the town will be spent on access, as it’s so important for the residents so they can get about more easily.”
Bexhill Town Council has produced a map which is available for disabled residents which highlights where drop kerbs and ramps can be found throughout the town.
It’s hoped the map can be developed to be more comprehensive and will give disabled residents a reliable source of information they can use to get about.
Paper copies of the maps are available from the town council’s office on Western Road.
