Footpaths and roads risk for wheelchairs

DROGHEDA has been described as ‘absolutely terrible and shocking’ by those who have to traverse its streets and roads by wheelchair.

A complete overhaul of footpaths and disabled parking spaces in the town is needed, especially in advance of the Fleadh Cheoil coming to Drogheda in August.

‘It has to be one of the worse towns for accessibility I have ever seen,” says Nicola McDonnell, who has been a wheelchair user since an accident in 2010 damaged her spine.

“I was going up the town via Shop Street the other day and I was nearly slanty on the path, and I wouldn’t know where to start to tell you about trying to cross the roads.”

Claire McLoughlin says some of their members suffer as a consequence of the poor condition of the pavements.

“A parent of one of the youngsters on our basketball team, who lives in Mell, says he is nearly trapped there as he can’t get into town using the footpaths,” she explains.

“The parking situation in the town hasn’t helped either,and you can hardly see some of the disabled spaces that are there.”

Nicola says the spaces must all be painted a vibrant blue like in other districts, so motorists can see where they are.

“Even outside the IWA offices there is a wheelchair space I can never get as there is always someone parked in it.”