The Walpole Bay lift in Cliftonville is to close as part of the Tory council’s cuts to local resident services announced at Thursday evenings TDC Budget council meeting.
Cliftonville West ward councillors Linda Aldred, Doug Clark and Clive Hart argue that the lift provides access to the lower beach level promenade for many elderly & disabled residents living in the hundreds of new flats in & around Eastern Esplanade, and for visitors to the remaining local Cliftonville hotels.
Cllr Linda Aldred said "The lift provided disabled access to the lower beach level prom and it will be missed by many residents and visitors, especially those in wheel chairs".
Cllr Doug Clark said "The beach has lost its Blue Flag status & the Conservative administration at TDC appears to be abandoning any hope for Cliftonville to re-establish itself as a seaside resort in the future".
Cllr Clive Hart said "I find it incredible that a Conservative administration at TDC proposes painting a building like the lighthouse in Margate that quite clearly does not need painting at all, but then can't find the money to maintain a very useful existing TDC facility".
PICTURES ATTACHED - 1) THE CLOSED LIFT 2) ACCESS TO LOWER PROM.
Published by Cllrs Aldred, Clark & Hart. 44 Norrthdown Road, Cliftonville, CT9 2RW.
I thought councils have a legal obligation to provide disabled access these days?
ReplyDeleteOnly to where they have a need to go. Think you will find there is no disabled access to others of Thanet's beaches.
ReplyDeleteYes there is. They built concrete slopes on Margate main sands for disabled access, & there's a lift (still) working at Viking Bay I believe.
ReplyDeleteI think, but I claim no expertise, that access must be provided to public places where it reasonably can be. As Peter points out there is no such access to Botany Bay, nor I am sure, to Kingsgate Bay. Similarly, at Clarendon House in Ramsgate there is only disabled access on the ground but not upper floors of the old building although their much more modern science labs had it installed from the outset.
ReplyDeleteMore concerning about Botany Bay as a naturist beach would be the fact that it is used frequently by science and geography teachers for out door lessons for their little charges. Would one really wants these children gawking at other peoples dangly bits. Not nice!
Peter, to some extent I go with to each his own and I have no problem with naturists in private land, if that is what terms them on. In public places though I would have you all locked up for outraging public decency, so probably best we agree to differ. Oh, and you are wrong about perfectly legal. It is not but the authorities for some reason choose not to enforce the law on the issue.
ReplyDeleteNot quite right on the law, Peter, for it is still down to judicial interpretation as to what constitutes public indecency and thereby gives rise to an offence. In brief, it is exposing parts of the body contrary to local custom of modesty and thereby offending.
ReplyDeleteIn part you are right about where such exposure happens but it is also down to local feelings on the issue and, should complainst be made, they would have to be investigated. Wouldn't suggest you try stripping off in a mosque.