John Morgan, along with his colleague Seamus O Grady, has compiled an extensive accessibility study in Dundalk town. A wheelchair user himself he set out to ascertain what accessibility issues were of concern in the town centre, not only for wheelchair users but also for the elderly, parents with prams or buggies or even people making deliveries to businesses.
John set out in his wheelchair, using the Market Square as a starting point, and surveyed the surrounding streets, with his colleague Seamus taking photographs. While the recently refurbished Square proved ideal for wheelchair users, John quickly encountered problems when he ventured along the streets of Dundalk. The drop in height between the footpaths and roads means wheelchair users may experience stress to their necks. Gullies and uneven surfaces also cause difficulties for all pedestrians but especially for wheelchair users, the elderly and parents with buggies.
This is an extensive and detailed study which highlights the areas of difficulty and also points out those areas which have good accessibility. Louth is an "Age-Friendly" county, and prides itself on having this label. There is an urgent need to address the problems of accessibility and solve the problems that wheelchair users and the elderly can endure on a daily basis in the town,
I have written to the Director of Services and the town Engineer seeking an immediate meeting to discuss the findings of John's report. I have also written to the Director of Services regarding seating
arrangements for wheelchair users in the Táin Theatre along with the
inaccessibility of the disabled toilet on the ground floor.
For the past two years I have been honoured to present the Louth Access Awards and I would like to commend all those businesses and workplaces which have improved their accessibility.
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