Couple claim city is not fit for wheelchair users

After struggling to complete a 15-minute journey to their nearest supermarket, a couple have said that Aberdeen’s pavements are unsuitable for wheelchair users.

Since she dislocated her knee on a treadmill at the gym, Emma Summers has had to rely on a wheelchair to go about her daily routine.

And with a high chance of becoming permanently reliant on a wheelchair in the future, both Miss Summers and her partner, Megan Bruce, fear what their coming years in Aberdeen may bring.

The couple say that a short journey to their local supermarket was “almost impossible” due to the uneven pavements on King Street, which caused them to constantly veer into the road.

The 25-year-olds also said the broken cobbles meant the wheels of Miss Summer’s chair would become stuck while raised kerbs made it difficult for Miss Bruce to lift Miss Summers on to and off the pavements to cross the street.

Aberdeen City Council says that like all local authorities it only has a limited budget, but is willing to discuss these issues in more detail and prioritise improvements in line with its budget process.

Miss Bruce, who works full-time as a carer, said: “Emma was going a bit stir crazy in the house, so we thought we would take the wheelchair to Morrisons – it was a 10-15 minute walk at most.

“But it took ages. Over half an hour one way.

“Emma thought she would be able to push herself most of the way but it was just impossible.

“Half the time it was a two-person job – she was pushing the wheels and I was pushing the chair itself.

“It was mental, and my arm was just killing me because I had to have a proper hold on it at one side because it kept tipping.

“Right outside the police station was the worst, we were falling into the road.

“Near the Pizza Hut delivery shop, the cobbles are bumping everywhere, and the front wheel of the wheelchair got stuck.

“I had to physically lift the wheel out and lift the front of the wheelchair on to the pavement.

“I saw someone looking at us and he was away to come and help but I managed to get it out myself.

“The whole trip was terrible with things like that happening the whole time and bumps everywhere.

“I handle wheelchairs all the time at work and I am used to them, but it was still awful and she would have not managed on her own. It was a joint effort.”

For Miss Summers, who says she may become reliant on a wheelchair permanently in the future, the incident served as a warning about what her life could be like if improvements are not made.

She said: “Megan was getting quite upset with it and I was saying that at least for now this isn’t long term but god forbid if I end up permanently in a wheelchair – there is no way to get about Aberdeen.

“The pavements are slanted in towards the road and crashing you into walls and pillars – it’s really difficult.

“If I was fully wheelchairbound, I wouldn’t leave the house.”

Miss Bruce said: “I would just like the pavements to be smoothed out.

“They are always redoing roads and things which are fine but there are pavements that are badly needing it and they just don’t get looked at ever.”

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council said: “Like all local authorities, we have limited budgets; however, we work closely with disability groups where they raise these issues at our regular meetings.

“Officers would be happy to discuss these issues in more detail and prioritise improvements in line with our budget process.”

ACCESS: Wheelchair user Emma Summers and her partner Megan Bruce have hit out at the condition of pavements. Picture by Kami Thomson.