Minister Calls for Accessible Beaches

Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, has urged councils to consider the positive economic and social benefits of making beaches and the countryside more wheelchair accessible.

Access for All

McVey is encouraging councils to work with the Disability Action Alliance, an umbrella group of disability organisations, to improve accessibility to natural places of interest in the interests of increasing equality and boosting the economy.  The ‘purple pound’ is reputed to be worth over £80 billion per year and councils are being urged to take advantage of this by opening up popular beaches and tourist spots for everyone.

Cornwall and Torbay councils have both taken moves to increase accessibility to the great outdoors by supplying accessible bikes, beach huts and sand chairs.  The charity Living Options Devon has also taken steps to make beaches in the South West more wheelchair friendly by providing all-terrain mobility scooters and wheelchair accessible boats that allow up to five wheelchair users to sail or fish together.

Enjoying the Countryside

Jason Maben of Living Options Devon, an organisation working with people with disabilities, comments: “It’s impossible to describe the feeling of suddenly having the ability and freedom to go into the countryside again.

“With the unusually warm weather this year we’ve never been busier. Opening up access means people with disabilities suddenly have independence again to explore and enjoy the countryside which is truly amazing.”