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Boost for New Brighton as
Shopmobility hub opens
A sports pavilion near to New
Brighton's promenade is being brought back into use as a Shopmobility centre for
the resort.
The former secondary bowling pavilion at Marine Park; opposite the Marine Point
leisure and retail development; has been transformed into a base where people
with mobility issues can hire equipment to help them get out and about more
easily.
An adjoining block housing public toilets is also being reopened.
Shopmobility services are already operated in Birkenhead and Liscard shopping
centres by the local charity, WIRED.
Their services are a lifeline to members of
the public, whose disability, age or frailty can often make them feel isolated
from the wider community.
Funded by the Council's Wallasey Constituency Committee to help tackle social
isolation, Shopmobility staff and volunteers will operate the centre every
weekend making New Brighton more accessible to people with physical disability
or mobility issues.
Cllr Bernie Mooney, Chair of Wallasey Constituency Committee, said:- "We
are thrilled to have supported the addition of this valuable resource to a
thriving tourist location. Not only will this help to make New Brighton more
accessible, but it brings back into use a building that has been stood empty for
many years and opens up further toilets for public access at weekends."
The project was endorsed by New Brighton Coastal Community Team, a partnership
of local traders, community groups and voluntary organisations working alongside
Wirral Council and is focused upon building on New Brighton's strengths to
increase tourism and employment, whilst responding to the needs of the local
community.
Cllr Tony Jones, Wirral Council's Pledge Champion for "building a vibrant
tourism economy", said the opening of the Shopmobility Centre will help
meet an identified need in New Brighton.
Cllr Tony Jones add that:- "The New Brighton Coastal Community Team has been given funding from central
government to develop an economic plan to continue the regeneration of the area.
Improved accessibility was identified as a key priority to help achieve this. The work of the team is also focused upon celebrating and restoring New
Brighton's heritage, which Marine Park; at more than a century old; is very
much part of. The idea of bringing the former pavilion back into use as a Shopmobility
hub was just too good to pass up and it's great to see the transformation
completed."
The building will be officially opened by the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Pat Hackett,
on Tuesday, 27 September 2016.
WIRED will be holding an open day, from 10am until 4pm, on the day for people to visit the site and find out more information.
Mobility aid users are invited from 10am, to participate in the event and take
part in an exploration of New Brighton, using mobility aids, that will be led by
WIRED and help raise awareness about some of the challenges faced by people with
mobility issues.
David Maguire, Chief Executive Officer of WIRED, said:- "WIRED
Shopmobility services have been established in Wirral for over 20 years and have
worked in partnership with Wirral Council in ensuring people with mobility
issues can still access the local community with the help of mobility aids such
as electric scooters and wheelchairs.
We are delighted to be supported by the Wallasey Constituency Committee to
establish a Shopmobility service in New Brighton to enable not only local
residents to access services, but to help visitors to the resort enjoy some of
the facilities available to them. Please call and see us on the 27 September
2016."
New Brighton Shopmobility is open each weekend, from 10am until 4pm. WIRED staff
and volunteers are happy to supply or collect a mobility aid from a nearby
parking area by calling to book in advance on:- 07729 334445 (weekends) or
call:- 0151
647 6162 (weekdays). So what do you make
of this news? Does it affect you in anyway? Can any more things be done to
help give better access for disabled people in the area? Please let
us know your views via emailing our news room to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.com today! |
