Access denied

As an 83-year-old with mobility issues and needing to use a mobility scooter and with a desire to get out into the countryside as much as possible to enjoy the wildlife and tranquillity, I found it most upsetting when every area I attempted to access or explore was barred to me.

The first place I wanted to enter was The Queens Enclosure, Cowplain.

I found a gate that looked as though it would give me access but on further investigation there was no ramped curb from the road and the surface through the small entry gate was very uneven and looked impassable, so I had to abandon that idea.

The second area I explored was the footpath alongside the river Wallington on the edge of the Forest of Bere housing estate in Waterlooville.

After reaching a T junction several times and turning back, not knowing where either of the arms of the T went, I finally decided to take the plunge and turned right to see exactly where it did go.

Well, it went quite a long way and after about half hour of travelling I came to its end, another small gate, but with very difficult access, a large fixed box in the middle of my path and a piece of wood, or something sticking up about three or four inches out of the ground, also in my path, so I had to turn back yet again. What is the point of making all these accessible footpaths (which I am very grateful for) if the disabled are denied access to them? I’m sure it would not take long to correct these minor faults and give full access and enjoyment to the disabled as well as

everybody else.

Peter Derham Chaplains Close Waterlooville