‘Pembroke slipway will benefit many islanders’
PEMBROKE’S upgraded slipway was officially opened yesterday.
It will now provide better beach accessibility for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairment and pushchairs.
Following the completion of the improvement works and fundraising efforts for a new specially designed adult manual ballooned wheelchair for use on the beach and rough terrain, The Wooden Spoon charity’s Beach Wheelchair Scheme was able to show off its new purchase at the opening.
Wooden Spoon chairwoman Karen Solway said it was lovely to see the newly upgraded ramp.
‘This is absolutely fantastic to see,’ she said.
‘It will really benefit lots of people, and not just people with wheelchairs, but people with mobility issues and those with buggies or pushchairs.’
Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services completed the work at the end of May, at a cost in the region of £7,000, ensuring the surface of the slipway was ridged to avoid people slipping and infilling the worn steps that were in the centre of it to enable a continuous concrete ramp.
‘Pembroke is one of the few slipways around the island which is shallow enough for beach wheelchairs and manageable enough to be able to put a wheelchair-accessible ramp on,’ said Ms Solway.
‘It would be nice to see this developed at other beaches but we’re not sure if it would be possible, so we’ll see what comes up. To have one here is really lovely, though, as even more people can now enjoy the beach.
‘I heard from one lady who uses a wheelchair who said her daughter used to video call her when she was out at the beach with her dog.
‘Now she’ll be able to join them instead and that’s really great.’
The charity is now in the process of waiting for planning permission to be approved for somewhere to store its new wheelchair for all islanders who need to use it, with a children’s wheelchair purchase also in their plans.
Both were due to be finished by summer, but the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a delay of three to four months.
‘We’re still fundraising for us to be able to provide these and so far have around £11,000 of the £16,000 needed,’ said Ms Solway.
‘It’ll be fantastic once we can buy and build the shed and people will really be able to enjoy themselves once it’s all up and running.’
Each specialised wheelchair costs in the region of £3,500.
n To donate or for further information, visit giving.gg/donate/event/5871/Guernsey-Beach-Wheelchair-Scheme or email guernsey@woodenspoon.org.uk.
