Motion on access to Ebley Mill

The monthly Coffee morning yesterday at Randwick Church was a good chance to catch up with various people on moves to tackle the local bus service, trees at Ash Lane and various other items - but also wanted to mention this motion that I supported last week.....

Photo: Coffee Morning at Randwick Church

Labour have put forward a motion to next Full Council (later this month) to improve access at Ebley Mill - I am very happy to support this motion - but wonder sometimes if such matters need a motion - I would imagine Cabinet will be happy to support this? But then again perhaps I'm wrong - we'll wait and see.

Photo: view of Ebley Mill from above Westrip

Infact the Council has done more than most to tackle this issue of access - but I do agree there is still much to be done and it is important we lead by example. This issue of access is fundamental - infact back in 1985 my dissertation for my Joint Honours degree was on the Social Model of Disability - it is also Green party policy - things have come along way since then but we still have much to do!

Motion: This Council believes that priority should be given to providing direct disabled access to the Council Chamber at Ebley Mill. Plans and costingsfor providing such access should be submitted to a Council meeting at or before 20 September 2007.

Preamble for motion: Access to the Council Chamber at Ebley Mill remains difficult for disabled people (and anyone who finds stairs difficult to climb, for whatever reason). Though disabled access is available via lifts in adjacent parts of the building, it is not right that members of the public do not have direct access to the chamber in which Council decisions are taken and other meetings, which they may wish to attend, are held. Having to ring a bell to summon help with access is demeaning. The issue is not merely one of providing disabled access but having access that is straightforward and that preferably can be managed without relying on other people for help. Having had help to access the lift and to reach the Council Chamber, in an emergency or when a disabled person wishes to use the toilets or leave the building, s/he is again dependent on someone else using their card to open the door that leads to the lift.

Under disability discrimination legislation, we should be looking to reducing occasions when people attending Ebley Mill fell that they are being treated differently. We should be making sure that we respect the dignity of all members of the public.