South Ayrshire Council - News - Access Guide to Ayr

PROVOST SLOAN PRESENTED WITH ACCESS GUIDE TO AYR

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan was guest of honour at the launch of the first Accessible Guide to Ayr, which was compiled by members of the South Ayrshire Access Panel.

The South Ayrshire Access Panel comprises of people who give up their own time to campaign for improvements for the disabled community in South Ayrshire. The Panel, whose parent body is Scottish Disability Equality Forum, has direct links with the Council through an Officer from the Buildings Standards Service, who is the Council’s Disablement Liaison Officer, and also through an Elected Member of the Council who attends Panel meetings.

After being presented with an Accessible Guide to Ayr Provost Sloan said: “Members of the South Ayrshire Access Panel seek to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by attempting to create a barrier free environment that increases mobility for people with disabilities and allows them access to a wide range of buildings.

“For the first time ever local residents or visitors to Ayr with particular needs will be able to quickly identify places that they can access and which have suitable facilities.

“The symbols within the guide for each location were awarded by people with disabilities who took the time and bother to check out premises.

“I hope that guides for other towns in South Ayrshire can be produced in the future.”

Four thousand copies of the Accessible Ayr Guide have been printed with 300 specially adapted copies for people who are visually impaired. The production costs of the guide were met by the generosity of organisations that took advertising space within the publication.

Margaret Shearer, a member of the South Ayrshire Access Panel, who has progressed the production of the guide said: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported this project. I would particularly like to say how much the Panel appreciate the support that the Council has given, both in Officer time and with the advertisements that they placed in the publication.”

The guides are free and can be uplifted from a number of places in Ayr including: Shopmobility; Disability Resource Centre; Social Care and Social Work Department; Tourist Information Centre; Carnegie, Forehill and Alloway libraries; Access Panels; Ayr Hospital; General Practitioners and NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

For further information on the South Ayrshire Access Panel log on to either www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/community/access_panel.htm or south-ayrshire-access-panel.org.uk alternatively anyone who has any questions about the Ayr Access Guide should contact Margaret Shearer on telephone number 01292 476758 or 07968 461 156.

Everyone present at the launch proudly displays a copy of the Accessible Ayr Guide.

Everyone present at the launch proudly displays a copy of the Accessible Ayr Guide.

Provost Winifred Sloan was presented with a copy of the Accessible Ayr Guide by Margaret Shearer, South Ayrshire Access Panel member.

Provost Winifred Sloan was presented with a copy of the Accessible Ayr Guide by Margaret Shearer, South Ayrshire Access Panel member.

June 2006