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Seaton, a charming coastal town located in Devon, is known for its pebbly beach and serene waters of the English Channel. It has always been a popular destination but for wheelchair users, reaching the shoreline presented significant obstacles.
The Idea Takes Shape
Nicky Dack, disability champion at Seaton Town Council, who lives with progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS), came up with an idea to make the beach more wheelchair accessible whilst on a trip with her family where she unfortunately had to watch them enjoy the beach without her. She presented the idea for a wheelchair accessible beach track to her local council.
Seaton Mayor Councillor Amrik Singh said: “Seaton Town Council appointed Nicky Dack as its ‘Disability Champion’ to assist the town council in making small adjustments around the town to make it more accessible for all. The beach matting is a great addition to the beach and complements the town’s wide accessible promenade to accommodate all needs. Seaton is the town where everyone is welcome.”
Designing for Inclusivity
The design of the wheelchair accessible beach track was carefully considered to blend seamlessly with the natural environment. The 85-metre platform is made of Tuff Trac, a combination of plastic and aluminum, and has been fitted on top of the pebbly surface, allowing wheelchair users to traverse it with ease while taking in the breathtaking coastal scenery. Nicky was invited to be the first person to try the new path and She said: “When I tried it out it was just such a good feeling. It was amazing to be back on the beach at Seaton for the first time in 15 years.”
Everyone is Welcome
With Nicky’s brought to life Seaton council is looking into additional funding to extend the path length in both directions for a chance to transform Seaton into a town.
Disabled visitors who are arriving in their wheelchair accessible vehicles can now enjoy a leisurely stroll whilst breathing in the Seaton seaside air with ease.
