Post archive

Three Arch Road, Redhill has a new path

We have just received this news:

"Surrey County Council worked overnight for a week to completely re-do the path.  


It has been worth all the effort and I am so pleased with the result and so many people will find the path easier to walk on and for people like me in wheelchairs its just amazing."

Surrey County Council's reply

Here is today's reply to the Freedom of Information question from 18 September about how the accessibility budget has been spent in this area.

14 November 2008

Dear Ms Filby

You requested further information about DDA works carried out in the
Reigate, Banstead, Redhill, Horley and Merstham areas. I am able to
confirm Surrey CC has carried out DDA related works at Park Hall
Residential Home, Reigate Library, Highfield Community Home, Arundel
Hostel and Banstead Youth Centre,

If you require any further information please do contact me.

Nick Layton
Professional Services Consultant
Buildings Group
020 8541 9899

An outstanding council making Surrey a better place
Forward thinking -responsive and reliable - working with others - value
for money

Pathway - Three Arch Road, Redhill

An official update is as follows:



It is going to done, hopfuly before Christmas
IT was hard work getting done, but I am please say it has pay off.
I will keep you informed.
I am  sorry I did not e-mail you sooner, but I have been on holiday

Kind regards


cllr frances king

'A lot of rich disabled people' now pay for hospital parking; access in town centres

Since the Matters Arising at the previous meeting, two questions are being answered under the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of the Reigate & Banstead Access Forum. 

See  
www.whatdotheyknow.com .

One question is to Surrey and Sussex Hospital Trust about the parking policy at East Surrey Hospital and the comment "There are a lot of rich disabled people".

The other question is to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council about the £200,000+ that was sent by Surrey County Council for improving access in the town centres over the last four years.



There is also some news about the HPV cervical cancer vaccine. Please contact Grace for full details.
 

Easy peesy accessible toilets






























This is the best colour for the walls -
the FLUSH levers need to be a distinctive colour so they can be seen easily.





Thank you

Thank you to Janet Hill at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council for asking a resident in North Street, Redhill to cut back their heavily overgrown garden. It was completed almost overnight once she stepped in on behalf of the Access Forum. The pavement is now accessible again.

Access to East Surrey Hospital

 

          At the AGM on 3rd July, Chris Rivers (Head of Estates) gave a talk on Access Issues at the East Surrey Hospital. He welcomed the involvement of the Access Forum and offered to return to another meeting if required. Priorities from the hospital’s Access Audit were being established, and no development would happen without access questions being addressed. The lack of toilets compliant with national guidelines was evident. This was a priority. Upstairs floors have been refurbished and lower floors will follow, as will improved lighting. The Information Desk may be lowered, written signage in Outpatients may be introduced and general signage in the hospital improved. Internal clutter in corridors had been removed.

          Externally, disabled parking bays were to be repainted and increased in number. It was acknowledged, however, that the abuse of parking bays was not policed. Drop off points at entrances were often abused by long term users.

          Chris Rivers was thanked for his contribution.

Watch out - there's a ha-ha about.

















The new Ha Ha at Reigate Priory Park was turfed on 19 June 2008.

This was the feedback from Nina Porter, the Project Manager on 20/4/2007 after a meeting with the Access Forum:

1) HaHa - after the concern expressed about the haha drop, I discussed
the issues raised with the Heritage Lottery Fund and our landscape
architects and have agreed that we will use the area of grass between
the haha and the path as a planting area to include a range of bulbs to
ensure flowers throughout the year.

2) Additional toilet facility near the lake - this issue was also
discussed with HLF, the Friends of Priory Park and with the Programme
Board to which I report.  It has been agreed that the request requires
additional user research which will be possible once the new facilities
are open (ie. to assess demand for the additional toilets).  This
research will be built into the new Management and Maintenance plan. 

3) Parking in Park Lane opposite allotments - I have still to
investigate this further and will report back once I have further
information.

4) Pavilion - I confirm there will be an electronic door for the
pavilion.  The window in the disabled toilet is being placed at a height
of 1.55m and will be sandblasted glass (allowing light but minimal
vision).

Priory Park pavilion access


















The main path along the south front of Reigate Priory School.



Door for disabled access - push button on the post to the right.  


















Pathway - Three Arch Road, Redhill RH1 5RH

Success!

Following Barry's email to Surrey County Council regarding the path to East Surrey Hospital (Marian had tried many times herself, sadly without success), the pathway is to be put on the priority list to be re-surfaced. Unfortunately they cannot give a date at present.
 

Social care - your views

Give your views on social care reform during the current six month government consultation on the future of social care.

 

        Visit www.lcdisability.org/socialcare

VAT on disabled facilities grants

We have been sent this petition to the Prime Minister. To sign it, click the link below.

"VAT should be abolished on all Disabled Facilities Grant works. Working out VAT on Disabled Facilities Grant works is a minefield, with some items such as ramps and bathrooms being exempt, while other essential items such as accessible kitchens and bedrooms are not exempt. Charging VAT on these works can reduce the available grant by up to 17.5% (reducing the current maximum grant of £30000.00 to £24750.00)."



This note was added:


Hopefully, if we can get many people to sign the petition - it might have some effect. (Gordon Brown, after all may feel he needs some people who like him - well we can dream can't we?)

Every disabled child matters - Charter

Surrey County Council signed up for the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter for local authorites, and hopefully Surrey PCT - will be doing the same. CONGRATULATIONS to a member of FABRAB, Gemma Roulston , who managed to get both public bodies in Surrey to sign up to their charters. The web-site to get more details is www.edcm.org.uk.

Gemma is also doing a survey of the car parks in Surrey - to see how many car parking spaces there are, and how many are reserved for the disabled. If anyone can let her know the figures for this, she would be grateful to receive this info. She is doing Council car parks, first - and then she will do hospitals etc. later.  Well done Gemma! Great initiative.

East Surrey Hospital

To mark "Deaf Awareness Week"  -    A stand will be held at ESH on Thursday 8th - all are welcome from 11 until 3 (subject to confirmation), nearest access via west entrance.
 
Mole Awareness - On Friday 9th - Dr Cliff (Consultant and his Team) will be checking moles.  By appointment only from 9 oclock until noon.  To book an appointment ring 01737 768511 extension 6286 or 6285 (between 9 and 5 Tuesday onwards.  Advice will be given on sun-care too . You will be referred to your GP if  treatment is needed.  Nearest access via east entrance - join the main street turn right and immediately on your left - derm. day clinic.

next meeting

There will be a meeting of the Reigate and Banstead Access Forum on Thursday 24th April at 11 a.m. in the Park Room at Reigate Park Church, Park Lane East, Reigate.
Phone Barry Samuel on 01737 243308 for details or a lift.

Happy Easter!

Number 10 Downing Street - Blue Badge Petition

Here is an e-petiton that Gemma Roulston has created on the number 10 website. She says please sign up, and pass onto others.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/blbadgers/



Happy occasion



Many congratulations to Mr and Mrs Sharp who were married on Saturday 21st July at Reigate Park Church.

Dave and Doreen are pictured here walking down the aisle. The congregation is singing "Always look on the bright side of life". There is a Guard of Honour by the 34th Scout Group (Meadvale).

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