More freedom for disabled visitors at Lochore Meadows

Disabled people will be given more independence thanks to a new motor aid being installed at Lochore Meadows.

Drivedeck, designed by Smile Smart Technology, will allow wheelchair-bound park users to get right up to the water’s edge.

A track from the Willie Clarke visitor centre will be laid in the coming weeks thanks to an NHS Fife endowment grant which covered the £2,500 price tag.

The technology firm behind the machine have kindly offered to loan one of the compatible Drivedeck machines, pictured below, to the park for the duration of the summer.

Staff at the centre hope to raise the £10,000 it will cost to purchase the technology which can be controlled via joystick, head or foot controls.

Ian Laing, park manager, said: “The company who provide the Drivedeck have offered to give us one for the duration of the summer holidays to see how it works in the park and the understanding will be at the end of that we would very much like to hang on to that.

“The cost of buying the Drivedeck is £10,000 so NHS Fife would be glad to hear from anybody who can come up with that sort of money and assist in paying for it. They very kindly paid £2,500 for the special track which will be glued to the ground.

“We are taking the track from the side of the visitor centre so people can drive up as normal in their cars before putting the wheelchair on to the carriage.

“The person in the wheelchair will then be in control of their own direction and will be able to explore the park with more independence on the carriage which follows the track using infrared sensors.

“We hope to have it installed and ready to go in the next fortnight.”