Walney's Northern Reserve: Following the total failure by Natural England to restore access to Walney's northern nature reserve I am now challenging the boulderdash barrier's planning application and preparing to file a claim under part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act. My challenge to the boulderdash barrier planning application can be found HERE.
Meanwhile: the route across the BAE tip and down the embankment has been cracked and this 35 minute video documents my first access into the northern reserve ths year.
Barrow Slag Bank: Unknown to me at the time moves were already afoot to regenerate the tallest slag bank and provide disabled access. This is of course a mammoth project and would take a long time to come to fruition. But as a result of a meeting for which I gained access to the slag bank from a keyholder I was able to give usefull input and as a result there is now the distinct possibility of limited access being provided ahead of completion of the entire project.
(8 weeks later - still no news)
Earnse Beach: Phil Huck of Barrow Borough Council has now resorted to telling outright lies to MP John Hutton in a desperate bid to defend the council's failure to give full consideration to access equality as required by law when deciding on what repairs were necessary to the slipway on Earnse Bay. It was thought that this matter might be resolved amicably but apparently not. Watch this space and watch Phil Huck's face when the DDA part three questionaire lands on his boss's desk in the very near future.
Earnse Beach: Thanks entirely to Gary Powell of Northwest Kitesurfing disabled access to the sands on Earnse Bay is still clear five full weeks after he voluntarily cleared it in time for the 2009 BKSA Kitesurfing Competition which began on Friday 31st July. One of Phil Huck lies to MP John Hutton was that the boulders would need clearing every single day.
South of Hare Hill: Yet another earthworks and boulder barrier has recently been constructed, this time preventing disabled access to the popular coastal area south of hare hill.
Furness Golf Course: Getting it in the ear of irate golfers for daring to ease the step and bend the barbed wire away from the access point which tipped me off my scooter and ripped my jacket a couple of weeks ago.
Our aim is to have the freedom of movement demonstrated in the video below on every footpath and in every recreational area in the borough. At the moment access to the vast majority of footpaths and open spaces in Barrow is being denied to mobility scooter users through sheer neglect and man made obstructions such as kissing gates and steel earthworks or boulder barriers. We want these barrier removed NOW so that disabled people can enjoy the same right to roam as anyone else.
