New era for garda station
GOREY GARDA STATION IS NOW ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WITH NEW RAMP
AFTER five years of campaigning, Gorey Garda Station is finally accessible to all. A new ramp has been constructed at the front of the historic building, and a sliding front door has been installed for ease of access, while inside the revamped lobby, the new front counter now has a section specially lowered for wheelchair users.
The completion of the project was celebrated last Friday by members of the local garda force, Wexford County Council staff and councillors, OPW staff and community access campaigners.
Superintendent John Gordon paid tribute to the OPW, the housing section of An Garda Síochána, and Wexford County Council for its significant input into the project which has also seen the footpath outside repaved. He also thanked the public for raising awareness of the need for the ramp, and paid tribute to the personnel at the station who continued to provide a service during the works, and to the public for its cooperation.
Cllr Mary Farrell was on the Council’s access committee as a community representative alongside Helen Tobin of St Aidan’s when they raised the issue of access to the station five years ago.
She said that the Council’s access officer Caroline Horan helped bring the project forward, and that after meetings with gardaí and the previous Superintendent Liam White, the funding was secured to get the work done. ‘ There’s access for all now,’ she said. ‘People with disabilities have the right to access public buildings like this.’
Sergeant Stephen Ennis of Gorey Garda Station said they have had very good feedback so far about the new addition. He acknowledged the work of the contractor Declan Finn and his team from the OPW, as well as the support of the staff at the station who worked under difficult circumstances while the work was underway.
Gorey Municipal District cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen said the issue was brought up at his first meeting in the chair by Cllr Anthony Donohoe, and all councillors played their part in bringing the project to forward. ‘It’s one of many things that need to be done about access,’ he stated. ‘A lot of footpaths around Main Street need to be refurbished to be friendlier for wheelchair users, the elderly, and the visually impaired.’