Pembrokshire Beach to Become Wheelchair Accessible

A beach wheelchair service is to be launched in Pembrokshire in time for summer next year. The service, which will be available from April 2016, will give wheelchair users a chance to explore West Angle Bay.

All-Terrain Wheelchair

The all-terrain wheelchair can be hired by wheelchair users and their family for a small charge.The service comes after the introduction of specially adapted wheelchairs at other beaches around the country, including Bournemouth and Berwick.

The vehicle can move freely in the sand, allowing users to explore the beach and surrounding areas with no restrictions. This means that the beach will become wheelchair accessible and allow wheelchair users to enjoy Britain’s beaches.

It has been bought by Pembrokshire Access Group with funding from various charities and organisations. It is also supported by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Funding

Councillor Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Transportation said that the service will allow wheelchair users to enjoy day trips to the beach, something that may have proved difficult previously.

He said: “This new wheelchair is a wonderful example of how organisations in Pembrokeshire can work together for the benefit of all our residents.

“We are always looking for new ways to improve access to our facilities and services but all too often wheelchair users miss out because of access problems. We hope that this new wheelchair will enable people to explore the sands and wonderful coastal scenery at Angle.”

The wheelchair will be available to hire from the Wavecrest Cafe in West Angle Bay. The hire charge will cover repairs and maintenance costs of the vehicle.