Outdoor activity centres' funding boost for disabled users

A near £100,000 boost will see improvements made to the popular Pleasley Vale Outdoor Activity Centre making the centre more accessible for disabled users.

Our application to the Aiming High for Disabled Children fund for £93,500 has been accepted, meaning that essential alterations and building work can now be undertaken.

The centre, which was expanded recently by refurbishing a derelict building into offices/classrooms and changing facilities, is widely used by schools and groups and does offer disabled access. However, the pond, water based activities and facilities does not currently have disabled access.

The grant will see the jetty lengthened, an associated boat ramp, a floating pontoon, a hoist for disabled users and general improvements to the access so disabled people can get to the centre and use its facilities.

Council Leader, Councillor Eion Watts said, “One of the key issues we have always wanted to sort out was the lack of access for disabled users to the site and this grant provides us with the opportunity to address this and open up the centre to the disabled.

“We have a deadline of end of March 2012 to get this scheme completed. We appreciate that this is a very tight timescale, but we are confident we can achieve this and are determined to get this project up and running in time for when the new season starts in April for the benefit of any potential disabled users.”

Date issued: 4th January 2012

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 12:16