Councillor calls for improved disabled access in Southport town centre
A campaigning councillor is calling for more to be done to improve access and facilities for the disabled after a survey revealed 23 of Southport’s town centre cafés and coffee shops had potentially dangerous layouts.
Cllr David Barton conducted the survey along Lord Street and the Atkinson Arts Centre with Southport Access For Everyone (SAFE), the voluntary group which works to improve access for disabled people to premises and services in the area.
Out of the 27 cafés across Southport town centre that were surveyed only four had pavement tables and chairs set out correctly. The remainder had barriers with banners that were not secured at the bottom, not enough barriers, including planters, just posts and a rope or no barriers at all. Several cafés had furniture outside the designated area altogether.
Cllr Barton said he was now pursuing a number of initiatives to improve Southport’s disabled facilities.
He said: “Whilst we are collectively grateful that a request for new and improved disabled access and toilets has been granted at Southport Town Hall, having previously raised this myself independently, I want to remind the local authority and wider general public that this is an issue of key concern and should be recognised as such if we are to truly cater for Southport’s elderly demographic and long-term best interests.
“Should cafés and restaurants pursue wherever possible improved disabled facilities, they would be greatly valued and used, and with enough careful planning this could be done to also preserve the historic character of the area, which is popular with many tourists and investors.
“I would hope that this may include an improved review on the usage of advertising display boards, wherever possible providing a suitable alterative if these are found to detract from the surrounding Conservation area dynamic.”
Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward on Sefton Council, said other concerns included the storage of industrial style bins on the pavements, which can impede pedestrians with both visibility and mobility difficulties.
He said: “I am grateful to SAFE for contacting me on these issues and I regularly liaise with them for their feedback on how to improve the surrounding townscape.
“I am also requesting leniency be made for business owners to be able to display tables and chairs wherever possible under the Verandahs, especially in quiet locations along the high street where there is plenty of pace to manoeuvre for passers-by such as the southern end of Lord Street.”