RAISED KERB FORCES PENSIONERS ON TO DANGEROUS ROAD (Truro and Falmouth Liberal Democrats)

Truro and Falmouth Liberal Democrats <trurofalmouthlibdems@gmail.com>

RAISED KERB FORCES PENSIONERS ON TO DANGEROUS ROAD

January 8, 2009 12:00 AM

Disabled pensioners in Tregony are being forced to drive their mobility scooters out onto a busy main road because there is no wheelchair access to the pavement.

Residents of Roseland Parc, a new retirement development in the centre of Tregony, regularly use the Post Office and Londis store in the village centre.

"On leaving Roseland Parc they turn left and cross the end of New Road to access the pavement leading down to the Post Office." explained Harry Midwood, Chairman of the Roseland Park Resident's Association.

"The residents who are wheelchair bound cannot do this because there is a kerbstone which is impossible for them to navigate. They then have no option but to turn out onto the road and continue there until reaching the Post Office where there is a dropped kerb."

Mr Midwood contacted Terrye Teverson, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Truro and Falmouth after she visited Roseland Parc with Matthew Taylor MP before Christmas, asking for help to resolve the problem.

Mrs Teverson, who lives near Tregony said: "This is clearly a dangerous situation for these elderly residents,"

"The front wheels of the scooters are too small to take in the depth of the kerb. Having a dropped kerb would mean they could just drive straight onto the pavement and have direct access to the Post Office."

"The main road is busy with cars parked on both sides of the road, and traffic travels in both directions. The pensioners don't have a good view of the oncoming traffic, so just pulling out onto the road is pretty hazardous."

In response to a letter from the Residents Association, Cornwall County Council Highways Department explained that a risk assessment should have been carried out before Roseland Parc was given planning permission - the problem with raised kerbs would then have been addressed by the developer.

"Obviously this makes sense, but it doesn't help those disabled pensioners who have to brave the traffic just to do a bit of shopping and use the village facilities." Mrs Teverson said.

"I am going to write to the district and county council, as well as the company running Roseland Parc, to see if we can resolve this problem before there is a serious accident."