Barrier is removed (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Barrier is removed

6:00am Friday 22nd March 2013 in News

A BARRIER on a well-used footpath in Chard has been removed after complaints from mobility scooter users.

The barrier near Chard Young People’s Centre at the Essex Close end of the footpath, which runs between Chard Cricket Club and Chard Rugby Club through to Holyrood Academy at Zembard Lane, was of a height and width which meant scooter users were unable to get through.

Cllr Jenny Kenton, of Chard Town Council, received a number of calls from people who said the barrier prevented mobility scooters users from accessing the town from the Glynswood area.

She said: “I walked that way with my father, who is only able to get about on his own with one of these vehicles, and he very nearly took his head off trying to get underneath it!”

Cllr Kenton said it had proved difficult to find out who owned the barrier but discovered it belonged to South Somerset District Council rather than the county council, which is responsible for highways and footpaths.

“I’d like to thank SSDC for removing the barrier,” she said. “It may not have caused any problems for the majority of people who use that footpath, but for those who use mobility scooters it was proving a real headache – quite literally if they hit their head on it!

“Now that the barrier has gone it means people on mobility scooters can use the footpath, and get in and out of the town centre.”

A district council spokesman said they were pleased to remove the barrier in the interests of improving safety for mobility scooter users.