A number of local residents and Vale MP Alun Cairns have criticised the new Eastern Promenade scheme on Barry Island after a visit to the site revealed that access for wheelchair and mobility scooters is severely limited – with only steps and steep inclines proving access to the site.
Barry Island resident April Keeble contacted Vale MP Alun Cairns after discovering that access from her home to the Eastern Promenade can be made via deeply impractical steps or lengthy journeys around Barry Island to gain access.
Mrs Keeble said: “I live just a few hundred yards from the Eastern Promenade, but because I use a mobility scooter it is virtually impossible for me to access the promenade in a way that is practical. It is clear to that very little thought has gone into allowing access for people like me with limited mobility. I have been stopped by a number of passers by who are also having difficulty in getting down to the Promenade. It seems such a shame that after such a large investment, access for large number of people is severely limiting to what could be a wonderful area for everyone.”
Mr Cairns said: “The new facility is welcome, but I was astonished when I visited the site with Mrs Keeble to find access for those with mobility issues is very poor. It is troubling that more thought hasn’t gone into access for such an important area of regeneration. I have spoken at length about doing what we all can to make Barry Island the jewel in the crown of south Wales attractions, and I want visitors to be able to easily access the area from all sides. if this site was a model for disabled access then we could be attracting many more thousands of visitors to Barry. In Britain we have over 11 million people living with a long term limiting illness and the majority of these of the type that affect mobility.
What does the lack of practical access say to a sixth of the population about Barry Island? We need the local authority to take an urgent look at the access points onto the Eastern Promenade and make changes – steps, steep verges and cambers are all incredibly difficult for those with limited mobility and it is all the more concerning during periods of inclement weather.”