ePetition details
Urgent Need For Wheelchair Adapted Play Area In Moreton
I have been thinking about this for a long time and have finally had enough.
Enough of the fact there is nothing for our disabled children who are wheelchair bound locally..
I have recently had a meeting with a Councillor about the URGENT NEED for a Wheelchair Adapted Play Area that is local. As far as I am aware, the nearest Wheelchair Adapted Roundabout is in Thornton Hough. And yes, there is only ONE roundabout.
They have said it wont be a problem and Yew Tree would be a good open place for this area to be developed. This park is open and easily accessible for the Wheelchairs.
I know there are quite a few local children who are Wheelchair bound and would benefit greatly from this. Not only our disabled children in the Wheelchair, but their siblings and their friends who are not in wheelchairs. Meaning all our children could go to the play area/park together and enjoy themselves on the swings, roundabouts, slides, climbing frames.
My daughter Paige, is nearly 6, goes to The Lyndale School, Eastham and is in a permanent wheelchair, so this is why I am pushing for something to be done.
I think it is about time that the Council considered ALL children.
I have forwarded a link to a Councillor detailing a Company that can provide the necessary equipment for our Disabled Children. So I am aiming to get Bigger Swings that have Five Point Harnesses, a Wheelchair Adapted Roundabout and a Climbing Frame that is lower than your average frame, which also has a slide.
So I need all your help with this one...
So please please mums, dads, aunties, uncles, grandparents, friends...
Everyone that would be happy to use this park and the facilities please sign this petition.
And TOGETHER we will get the park our children need.
Thanks, Shelley Standen.
Started by: Michelle Standen
On reaching 100 signatures An officer will investigate the matter further
This ePetition ran from 09/05/2011 to 01/08/2011 and has now finished.
| Option | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Agree | 137 |   100.0% |
| Disagree | 0 | 0% |
Council response
The petition, together with a linked paper petition, had a combined total of 583 signatures, all in agreement. This was considered by the Council's Director of Technical Services and his response is as follows:
"At Wirral Council we aim to create fun, exciting and inclusive play areas to allow every child equal access to good quality play opportunities.
When new play areas are created or old ones refurbished the design process takes full account of inclusive play. Like children each play area is individual and different, and assessed on its own merits, and we make all reasonable steps to ensure inclusivity.
We try to ensure that the equipment we choose has inclusive features, but also offers a challenge and an element of risk. Children of differing abilities need to develop, explore and find their limits, therefore each Play Area needs to offer something for as wide a range of ages and abilities as possible. It is inevitable that certain pieces of equipment will be specifically designed not to be accessible to certain groups of children, for example where age and height mean children might not cope with in-built risk factors. Guidance from the KIDS organisation outlines the importance of not spending money on specialist equipment that will usually promote segregation rather than inclusion. The guidance also focuses on play for all, the consideration of all abilities and requirements, and states that a play environment can not be designed to meet all children’s unique needs.
We have a range of inclusive pieces of equipment in our Play Areas ranging from Activity Units, Roundabouts, Nest swings, springers and seesaws. We are also looking at locations for accessible swing seats that can accommodate a five point harness, with the first one having been installed at Birkenhead Park with the removable harness available at the Visitor Centre. A comprehensive listing of all improved play areas and the play equipment will be made available on the Wirral website."