Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) has taken swift action to remove two bins from Sainsbury’s car park in Ripon, that were causing access problems for disabled people and parents with buggies and prams.
The issue was raised with both HBC and North Yorkshire County Council by Jeremy Dunford, a trustee of Ripon Disability Forum, who pointed out that the waste and recycling bins on the pavement linking The Arcade to the supermarket, were leaving little room for people in wheelchairs, or families with young children to pass safely.
The bins seen in situ before they were removed
Following their removal, Mr Dunford told the Stray Ferret:
“Getting this resolved so quickly shows the benefits of community groups and councils developing relationships to address issues in a proactive way.
“However, it does also highlight the need for greater thought being given to works so that remedial action is not then needed after the event. It is cheaper and more cost effective this way.”
Mr Dunford added:
“As always, we encourage people to raise such issues with us to try and get them resolved in the best way that is possible.”
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Bins causing access problems in Ripon car park to be relocated
Two new bins that have created access problems for wheelchair users at Sainsbury’s car park in Ripon are to be relocated.
Harrogate Borough Council recently installed the waste and recycling bins on a footpath with drop kerbs that provides a link from The Arcade to the supermarket.
But they leave little room for wheelchairs, or people with prams and pushchairs, to pass safely.
After being contacted by fellow wheelchair users and parents with young children, Jeremy Dunford, a trustee of Ripon Disability Forum, raised the issue with North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.
The bins leave little room for manoeuvre for people with limited mobility.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“We have been looking at this area for some time, because cars, even when legally parked, have been encroaching on to the path on either side, making it hard to get along with mobility equipment and wide buggies.
“The addition of the bins made the position even more difficult.”
In response to Mr Dunford’s request for urgent action over the bins, a spokesperson from Harrogate Borough Council, which has installed many large new bins across the district lately, said:
“We’re in the process of having them moved and are working with local partners to find a more suitable location.”
Mr Dunford said:
“I would like to thank the council for their swift response. By working with organisations like the disability forum, we can hopefully avoid issues like this from arising in the future.”
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