The accessibility of Ballyshannon’s streets is set to be reviewed to address issues faced by wheelchair users and people with visual impairments.
At present, it is not possible to walk from the top of the town to the bottom without having to use steps.
Other issues such as the location of disability parking spaces and dropped kerbs have caused problems for people with disabilities in the town, which is largely situated on a hill.
While progress has been made to improve paths in recent years, local councillor Barry Sweeny has called for a co-ordinated review of the entire town.
He said the idea was met positively by the Roads Engineer of Donegal Municipal District and plans are being made to address issues.
Fine Gael’s Cllr Sweeny told Donegal Daily: “If you look back at old heritage photos of Ballyshannon it was all steps. This was reduced over time but there are still problems of accessibility, not only for wheelchair users, but for people with visual impairments and parents with buggies.
“There are areas that can be improved, such as to get from the top of the town to the bottom – you can’t do it without steps.
“We are looking at one area where it may be possible to eliminate steps.”
Cllr Sweeny said that meetings with local wheelchair users have highlighted problems such as parking spaces being located on the wrong side of the road and drop curbs not being in the correct places.
After raising the motion at the July sitting of Donegal MD, Cllr Sweeny said the council is exploring plans to do a walkability audit of Ballyshannon.
“It would be great to pilot this in Ballyshannon, but it is important in all towns in South Donegal.
“A lot of good work has been done by the council in the last two years to improve footpaths in the town, and it would be council practice to ensure these are wheelchair accessible,” Cllr Sweeny said.
Cllr Sweeny added that a combination of improved infrastructure and policing of disabled parking areas would improve the town for people with disabilities and for carers.
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