Community Services

South Ayrshire Access Panel

What is an Access Panel
The panel is made up of people who give up their own time to campaign for improvements for the disabled community in South Ayrshire. The panel also has direct Access Panel Logo

links with the local authority through an officer from the Building Standards Service who is the Council's Disablement Liaison Officer and also through an Elected Member of the Council who attends panel meetings.

Integration not Isolation
The South Ayrshire Access Panel, whose parent body is Scottish Disability Equality Forum, aims to ensure that those involved in the design of new buildings or reconstruction and adaptation work meet the needs of disabled people. The panel seeks to improve the quality of life of disabled people by attempting to create a barrier free environment thus increasing mobility, for example the provision of unrestricted access to public places and buildings.

With the introduction of The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 the balance is shifting from disabled people having to adjust to society, towards society adjusting to disabled people. The panel are actively identifying disabling barriers and assisting South Ayrshire Council with a long term strategy for a barrier-free environment.

The Panel has Campaigned on Many Issues with Considerable Success

A major campaign led to an increase in access to disabled amenities in Ayr Town Centre - including toilets parking and street furniture.

The panel were instrumental in the establishment of the highly successful disabled shoppers service - Ayr Shopmobility (01292 618086)

Access For People With Disabilities Investigation
Information has been compiled by members of the South Ayrshire Access Panel and is used to produce Access Guides to Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, Maybole and Girvan, they are available from the South Ayrshire Access Panel Website or you can download by clicking on the links below.

Pedestrian Crossings
Improvements to ensure the provision of dropped kerbs with tactile paving and allowing adequate time for a person to cross.

Transport
Improvements to bus signage was an issue raised by the panel to ensure buses could be identified more easily by people with visual impairment. Discussions took place with ScotRail to ensure that drivers announce each station as the train arrives.

Leisure
A survey of all South Ayrshire's facilities will result in money being targeted where it is needed most to improve disabled amenities.

Each year the panel are involved in ensuring that disabled issues are included in all major events that come to South Ayrshire.

The panel are consulted on all planning applications submitted to South Ayrshire Council. We try to make sure the needs of the disabled community are met.

Ayr Hospital
The Access Panel along with South Ayrshire Forum On Disability attend The Disability Forum and have the following successes:

Wheelchair parking at Accident & Emergency
Additional disabled parking
Wheelchair user's assistance callpoint
Valet parking service

To become a panel member or for further advice and information contact

Access Panel

Mr George Brown
Disablement Liaison Officer
South Ayrshire Council
Burns House
Burns Statue Square
Ayr KA7 1UT

Tel: 01292 616220
E-Mail: George.Brown@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

South Ayrshire Access Panel Website (link opens in new window)