A number of disability initiatives have begun in Norwood ward with the installation of two new access swings for disabled children.

Posted on: 16/02/2023 10:10

The work programme also includes installing drop kerbs and tactile paving on Bispham Rd and providing two disabled parking bays in the area.

Local councillor Greg Myers has been the driving force behind the changes but it hasn't been child's play to get the swings and other work started, he explained:"I'd recently managed to get the swings in Canning Rd park replaced as they were in a poor state of repair. Disability group SAFE (Southport Access for Everyone) then contacted me to say well done but it was a shame there wasn't a disabled-friendly access swing among them."

"Our officers explained this was unlikely as resources were very stretched and such swings cost between £700- £1,000. After over a decade of severe cuts, it's very difficult to meet even such obviously worthwhile requests."

"Generally, I don't think the public realises that over four-fifths of our budget now goes on social care alone. That basically leaves the council with just £40m to cover from parks to potholes and everything in between across all of Sefton."

"To compound this particular issue, a local community group then said they'd prefer it if such a swing went to the park in Devonshire Rd. So that meant we had two competing requests and no real possibility of meeting either and certainly not both of them."

"So I decided to try a bit of horse-trading. I asked officers if I was able to get agreement from my Norwood colleagues to pay for half of one from our ward funds and then also persuade the community group to pay for half of the other - would Green Sefton be persuaded to do a two-for-one deal and meet the remainder?"

"They kindly agreed and my ward colleagues also proved very supportive, as was local group the High Park Project. Now, as a result, two of our local parks are more accessible to disabled children, so I'm really pleased about that."

"The disabled bays took a bit of initiative too. The lack of disabled parking provision in the Bispham Rd area is something I've long wanted to correct as part of the improvement plan I'm leading on but it wasn't an easy fix. So I focussed in on two faded old taxi bays very close to Sainsbury's by the corner with Thornton Rd that I'd not actually seen used in all the years I've lived here."

"I contacted Highways officers to ask about converting those but they were quick to point out that the taxi lobby would strongly object and it could prove a lengthy battle. Even SAFE had some reservations due to that aspect but I felt it was well worth persisting."

"Sure enough, there was some pushback and It's taken a while to sort and go through licensing but thankfully good sense has prevailed and now those essentially redundant ranks are due to become dedicated disabled parking bays in May, I've just been told."

"The drop kerbs and tactile paving meanwhile are to go in by the end of this month, meaning those with sight issues can take a much safer route when crossing at the foot of Meols Cop Bridge."

"It's not easy these days with the very limited resources at our disposal but with a bit of creative thinking, persistence and effective partnership work - we'll press on making what difference we can."

Photo caption - Cllr Greg Myers with one of the new disability access swings