The frustrations of enjoying life in Rye for people with mobility issues was highlighted during an awareness day on Saturday, April 26.
For campaigners and allies it also showcased the dangers and obstacles faced everyday, and some of the ways the non-disabled either don't think or care about their concerns.
Wheelchair users and people with mobility scooters started a tour around Rye at 10am at the Tilling Green Community Centre.
They were issued with challenges to be completed around the town; finding an accessible public toilet, a pub with a ramp, using a cashpoint and entering ten shops without difficulty. Campaigners were also asked to record some of the problems with pavements, dropped kerbs and obstacles.
Before the day began, one participant shared the abuse he had already faced getting to Tilling Green. Peter Clark travelled from Valley Park in Rye in his mobility scooter. "Cars parked on the pavement on Udimore Road make it difficult for me to pass but when I asked a car owner to move his vehicle this morning I got verbal abuse. It happens a lot."
The lack of dropped kerbs in Rye has already been highlighted in Rye News. Streets and pavements in Rye are responsibility of East Sussex County Council, whose leader Keith Glazier joined campaigners on Saturday. "We've managed to get a limited number of dropped kerbs in place recently and today is very useful for highlighting the issues people face. But to be clear our budget for highway improvements is woefully inadequate, so we have to make difficult decisions."
He confirmed the mobility day's findings would be shared with the council's highway steward who checks on Rye's roads and pavements, along with his own photos and concerns.
After leaving Tilling Green the tour around Rye continued along Ferry Road before heading into town. Near the station a mobility scooter was almost hit by a passing motorist who failed to stop at the zebra crossing.
After the challenge of Market Road, wheelchair user Nikita Cunningham explored the high street. "I needed pushing up the hill and there are a lot of dropped kerbs that aren't wheelchair-friendly. We're not asking to change the whole town, just to make it more accessible. I want to support local businesses and spend money here."
In an effort to show some of the issues people who wouldn't normally use a chair also took part in the day, pushed by friends and family. Among them mayor Andy Stuart who told campaigners being wheeled around town was terrifying. "The railway crossing was appallingly difficult. We managed to get over it by reversing and pulling me across. Every small gap in the pavement was a nightmare."
After the high street the campaigners continued down Landgate onto Fishmarket Street and the controversial wall that juts into the pavement forcing wheel chair users into the road. The day finished at Rye Bowls Club to share stories about their journey around Rye and fill in feedback forms.
Dan Lake, one of the day's organisers, was keen to showcase the bowls club. "I'm glad we ended up here as they've done so much to make the club more accessible for the whole community. It's been an amazing day. It feels like its dominated my life for months."
Cllr Simon McGurk from Rother District Council praised Dan and fellow organisers Donna Lake and Flora Williams. "You've done an amazing job highlighting the issues. Rye is a beautiful old medieval town and you can only do so much, but we need to be really tenacious about making some changes to improve things. One thing I've picked up on is how willing Rye's shopkeepers are willing to help."
The results from the feedback forms are being examined this week. Rye News will have a full report on the findings next week.
Dan, Donna and Flora wanted to pass on their thanks to the community for supporting the awareness day. Including: Tilling Green Residents Association, Rye Bowls Club including the ladies who were serving the refreshments, Tilling Green Events CIC, Rye Chamber Of Commerce, Rye Hire. Hayden’s in Rye, the Cornish bakery, Rye Town Council, Rye Partnership, Rye Bonfire Society, Keith from Sweet Williams, Luke Williams, KT Bruce, tThe mayor Andy Stuart, the town Crier Paul Goring, the Hub on the Hill, Claire Debley Turner at the SunFlower Charity Shop, Graham Ellis, Cllr Simon McGurk, Louise and Keith Chapman from the fisheries and everyone at Rye News.
