Liberal Democrat Councillors Diane Williamson and Hazel Gloster want to make centres of the community more accessible.  They wish to set aside funding and offer improved access for those with mobility issues.  Councillor Williamson and Councillor Gloster bring forward a proposal to do just this to the 17June Oldham Council meeting.

The motion wishes Oldham Council to partner with: Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Action on Hearing Loss and other charities to carry out assessment of buildings and shopping areas.  Then, with the funding set aside the improvements will be made.

Councillor Williamson says: “Covid-19 has pushed elderly and ‘at-risk’ people from our high streets.  This motion aids those made vulnerable by Covid-19 to make an easier return to accessing what our communities have to offer.”

Councillor Gloster states: “We want to see the provision of ramps, hand rails, additions to entrances, removal of steps. These plus any necessary alterations needed to make our district shopping centres become more accessible.”

The Council meeting will be held on 17June and starts at 6pm.

Copy of Motion:

Council June 17, 2020 – Notice of Opposition Business, Motion 2 – Accessible Shopping Districts

Council notes that:

• Regulations are in place so that future improvements are Disability Discrimination Act compliant.
• That there are low-cost improvements businesses can make.
• Charities and Oldham Council can support and provide better guidance as to what those improvements might be.
• There is proven success in directly investing in our town and district centres.
• That all members need to be aware of dementia awareness training available.
• Oldham Council knows simple steps that can be taken to improve the use of the shops for people with dementia in our communities.
• Improvements such as these would help and support the local economy.

Council resolves to:

• Set up a district panel like that of the High Street Grants scheme.  This is where local elected members have an input and approval of applications to ensure an accessible commercial centre with the Cabinet Member having the final say on applications. 
• To ask Highway Engineers to carry out inspections of shopping area footways to ensure they meet current guidelines.  It doesn’t matter if this is in a town centre or a row of shops on an estate, accessible shopping must take place right across our Borough.
• Ask that an assessment of shopping area and town centre signage is clear and that brail information points are installed across these zones.
• Prepare a guidance campaign for businesses that could be used to raise accessibility awareness in commercial districts.
• Refer motion to Overview and Scrutiny and ask the mover and seconder to be part of any investigation.
• Read the report on Town Centres by Trailblazers a group of disabled campaigners from across the UK titled “Short-changed” to see if there is anything that we can learn from the report findings.

Proposed by: Councillor Diane Williamson, Seconded by: Councillor Hazel Gloster