Kentish Express Ashford & District
Rough streets ‘ stop disabled people visiting town centre’
Councils “don’t want disabled people in the town centre,” a business owner has claimed amid complaints of shoddy cobbles.
Colin Wiggins, owner of East Kent Mobility in the Park Mall shopping centre says uneven cobbles and lack of public toilets deter disabled people from visiting the town centre.
Mr Wiggins, who uses a wheelchair, explained: “As the population is getting older there are more mobility needs to make the town appropriate for the people who live here.
“There aren’t enough public toilets and many of the pavements have become uneven.
“It feels like the councils don’t want disabled people in the town.”
It follows Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) recent town centre consultation, where improving disabled access was mentioned by 26 people.
A total of seven comments mentioned the cobbles in the Lower High Street being an issue for people with physical disabilities or children in pushchairs.
Additionally, official council papers say people have requested the cobbles are removed altogether, suggestions the authority will “investigate further”.
First introduced to Park Street, North Street and the Lower High Street in 1999, the cobbles and paving slabs are maintained by Kent County Council (KCC).
Now, a significant number remain chipped and worn in a large stretch of the Lower High Street, with large gaps between cobbles.
A KCC spokesman said the authority had received no complaints about the cobbles so far.
He urged people to register potential hazards on KCC’s website.
“We’ll send an inspector to investigate and programme any repairs that are required,” he added.
A permanent solution will need to be made with ABC’s partners, a district council spokesman said.
He added that full details of the town centre consultation will be revealed next month.
The council spokesman said: “Any action in relation to the cobbles will require input from partners and no further action/
‘The population is getting older and there are more mobility needs...’
investigation has taken place as yet.
“A report setting out the full findings from the consultation alongside an action plan for the Town Centre is due to be considered by cabinet in February 2019.”
The spokesman also hit back at claims there are too few public conveniences by highlighting the council’s community toilet scheme.
The scheme includes 11 shops and restaurants in and around the town centre that provide toilets.
“We are also working closely with the One You organisation, who will be participating in the scheme to offer toilets on the ground floor of their unit in Park Mall.
“The disabled facilities are being built to a recognised standard and will include space for a disabled adult plus two carers, a hoist and an adult size changing table.”