Paths upgrade being examined

Paths at Perth Crematorium may be upgraded following the intervention of a local councillor.

Councillor Elspeth Maclachlan had responded to constituents’ complaints about the small stones that make up the paths used by visitors to the remembrance gardens.

“I found that despite all the work going on around the crematorium and the planned renovations to the facility itself, there had been no consideration given to upgrading these paths to allow for disabled access,” she said.

“I know from when I tried to push my late mother in her wheelchair around similar paths in Perthshire that it is basically impossible.

“To many people flat equals wheelchair-friendly, but to the wheelchair users and their helpers small stones make paths impossible to use.

“However, very few people feel confident enough to complain.

“As disabled access is very much council policy I asked a senior council officer to investigate this matter and he confirmed that the issue of the paths had not even been considered.

“Happily he agreed with me that it made more sense to do a path upgrade while the rest of the work in and around the crematorium was being done to avoid further disruption to the visitors to the remembrance gardens.

“The upgrade to all the paths is currently being costed and I look forward to a positive outcome.”