Firstly sorry to come into this discussion late but here goes anyway!

 

My reading of the original question was that the problem was one of publicity or at least communication. While not all local authorities have a good relationship with the ramblers association – many do and they ought to be able help here in a collaborative manner. The local footpath secretary might well be able to distribute notices (on the footpaths themselves) of the applicability of a path for such users along its length (might be a challenge there to define its length!) and at the very least could advertise which paths are more accessible in the (often weekly) publications they send out to members (and associates).

 

I suppose what I really am saying here is use your ramblers groups to do some of this advertising for you – In most cases they will be only too happy to do so.

 

Richard Everett (a former footpath secretary for the Ramblers in Bath and North East Somerset).

 

 

Friends
Are the attached papers issued by the Countryside Council for Wales of any use to you?

Cliff Croft
Neath Port talbot


On 24/08/2010 12:03 PM, Clive Sayer wrote:

Good idea, Martin. Perhaps signs could be erected at key access points to the paths  pointing out any important factors and inviting people to visit the website giving survey results.

 

These accessible gates are a real boon – I know several people who are fit and able to do reasonable country walks over rough terrain but find getting their leg over a stile difficult – often due to stiffness in the hips caused by arthritis or even  bursitis. Also if the gates become damaged there is every incentive on the landowner to get them fixed (to keep stock in) whereas many paths with stiles will have one or more stile that is defective and downright dangerous and remain unrepaired for years.

 

Regards.

 

 

 

Hi,

 

Just a thought:

 

Could you ask local walking groups to prepare descriptions and photos of the routes which could then be made available to disabled people via the web? That way people can make their own decisions. Maybe you could train a few volunteers to do it reasonably well?

 

Regards

 

 

Hello all.  Your experience welcomed regarding the following, please:

 

Worcestershire County Council Countryside Service has been involved in the installation of accessible gates to replace styles on some Worcestershire footpaths.  Some of our parish councils are concerned that installation of these gates could lead people with disabilities to presume that an entire path will be accessible and that the parish council could be liable in case of subsequent injury to a disabled person  using the foot path.

 

Has anyone encountered similar concerns?  If so, how were they addressed, please.  As the gates would benefit other groups as well as those who have mobility difficulties, and as none of us could reasonably expect all public footpaths/rights of way to be well-maintained and equally accessible to all, I would have thought that this concern is unfounded.  What do you think?

 

Regards.

 

Sandy

 

 

Sandy Bannister  (Mrs)
Corporate Equality and Diversity Programme Manager

Tel: 01905 766225

Fax: 01905 766221

Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]">E&[log in to unmask] 
Worcestershire County Council
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

www.worcestershire.gov.uk  [Keyword E for Equality and Diversity]

 

 

**********************************************************************
Confidentiality Notice
This message and any attachments are private and confidential and may
be subject to legal privilege and copyright. If you are not the
intended recipient please do not publish or copy it to anyone else.
Please contact us by using the reply facility in your email software
and then remove it from your system.

Disclaimer
Although this email and attachments have been scanned for viruses and
malware, Worcestershire County Council accepts no liability for any
loss or damage arising from the receipt or use of this communication.

Monitoring of Email
Worcestershire County Council may monitor traffic data and the content
of email for lawful business purposes.

**********************************************************************

_____________________________________________________________________
This message has been checked for all known viruses by MessageLabs.

----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html

This email and any attached files are confidential and copyright protected. If you are not the addressee, any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, nothing stated in this communication shall be legally binding.

The ultimate parent company of the Atkins Group is WS Atkins plc. Registered in England No. 1885586. Registered Office Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5BW. A list of wholly owned Atkins Group companies registered in the United Kingdom and locations around the world can be found at http://www.atkinsglobal.com/terms_and_conditions/index.aspx.

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html

Scanned by MailDefender - managed email security from intY - www.maildefender.net

Scanned by MailDefender - managed email security from intY - www.maildefender.net

----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html

 

----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html