A Gedling resident has criticised the council over the lack of disabled access to Gedling Country Park.
Roy Occleshaw got in touch with Gedling Borough Council in order to point out an issue with the Lambley Lane playing field entrance to the park, which is near to where he lives.
The entrance on this side of the park involves a swinging gate turnstile which does not provide enough space for a mobility scooter user to enter the park.
Should a disabled visitor manage to enter through this gate, they are then faced with a steep hill in order to reach the top of the park from which the viewing platforms can be accessed.
Mr Occleshaw, who visits the park regularly, told Gedling Eye: “The issue is with the supposed entrance to the country park.
“While it’s okay for pedestrians or cyclists, where it really strikes a chord with me is the fact that because my wife is disabled, she can’t come onto the country park with me from this end because of the design of the entrance.
“With looking at the gate and going through it every few days, I noticed that it is such a simple fix, it just needs one padlock unlocking and then it’s open to all.
“To me it seems as though there are lots of viable solutions, but the council don’t seem to want to take any of them on board or do anything.”
In order to gain easier entrance to the park, anyone unable to get through this gate or make their way up the hill would be forced to travel to the Spring Lane entrance of the park, around 3 miles away.
Councillor Peter Barnes, portfolio holder for environment, said: “Gedling Country Park was created with access for disabled visitors at the forefront of its design.
“We created a 1.4km route in the park that is specifically designed for wheelchair and mobility scooter users and is fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
“The park was built on a former colliery site so some areas, including the Lambley Lane entrance, where there are steep hills are just not suitable for people with wheelchair access.
“We understand that due to the build of the Gedling Access Road, it means that access to the park is limited but we are hoping that Nottinghamshire County Council will finish the road very soon and access will be easier for residents.”
Gedling Country Park opened in 2015 and boasts 580 acres of open space, footpaths and wildlife, along with a children’s play area, a visitor centre and two viewing platforms.
Hogwash!
Gedling borough council are trying to shift blame on to the roadworks.
The offensive entrance has been in place since the park opened six years ago.
From experience we have driven a mobility scooter up and down virtually all of the supposed steep slopes without incident.
Families with push chairs have to struggle through the gate- it just isn’t fit for purpose.
When the new road is finished there will still be woefully inadequate disabled access to the park from Gedling, to Gedling country park, for Gedling residents.
Unless, that is, that the council see sense and remove ONE padlock!
Shame on you!
The comment that disabled people were at the forefront of thoughts is definitely not the case if this issue has arose – why should we make disabled people go on a massive detour (up Arnold Lane and across mapperley towards the garden centre) to access a lovely country park when a 5 minute job could solve the issue and allow others the opportunity to access it?
It seems silly that the Council are more focused on fixing this road when there is a clear lack of thought for disabled people to access the country park from this entrance.
As Roy said, if it is a simple fix – why can’t someone run up from the council and rectify the issue? if Roy were to do it I’m sure it would be classed as vandalism.
I feel for disabled people because yes access should be for everyone. Even if they unlock the gate that steep hill isn’t going anywhere so im not sure what is expected to be done.
This turnstile is not a one off.
Around the spring lane side of the park (the supposed disabled friendly side) there are a further five restrictive turnstiles, balanced against two unrestricted entrances, both ironically leading from the car park.
The inclines will always remain, but they should be the only obstacle that the disabled should face in their pursuit of the great outdoors.