Ross
and Cromarty Disability Access GroupRoss and Cromarty Disability Access Group
ROSS AND CROMARTY DISABILITY ACCESS GROUP
Charity Number: SCO33514
Annual Report 2010-11
This Annual Report reflects the activities mentioned in our Activity Plan for the year and in our Service Level Agreement with Highland Council.
The services we offer to the community
Between one and three enquiries per month are taken by the secretary by email or phone, topics including disability benefits, stair lifts, designing accessible footpaths. Some have to be referred on to other organisations.
Access surveys have been carried out on an Alness footpath, at Logie Easter and Kilmuir Easter Churches, the Tesco site in Tain, Tain Museum, the seafront at Portmahomack and a footpath in Alness. Reports were submitted on 5 of these.
Talks on our work, and raising awareness of access issues were given to community groups in Ullapool, Milton-Kildary and Kilmuir and Logie Easter.
We have contributed, on request to consultations on accessibility to licensed premises and on the policing of 'blue badge parking'.
We have raised access issues with several local businesses without much immediate visible success, but can report that the clubhouse at Gairloch Golf Club is now wheelchair accessible as a result of members' involvement.
We were invited to join the newly formed Ross-shire Transport Forum to speak up for disabled people and have been represented at one or two of their meetings.
Work with Highland Council and other Statutory Agencies
Six planning applications have been commented on in the hope that developers will take on board our improved access suggestions.
On request we commented on the accessibility of as many polling stations as were known to, or could be visited by members in the timescale given.
Comments and suggestions were given on changes to a road junction and replacement bus layby, leading to a bus shelter being added to the original plan.
Following comments on plans for the new dental centre in Dingwall a Group member was invited to attend a meeting with staff, deciding on internal colour schemes and furnishings, leading to colour contrast throughout.
Footpath survey work continued in conjunction with the Council's Outdoor Access Officer, and although the information has not yet been published for the benefit of the general public, the reports on condition and accessibility have influenced decisions on prioritising path improvement work.
Member of RACDAG was active member of Stakeholders Group for the refurbishment of Dingwall High Street and influenced the inclusion of some good access features.
Group Development
We currently have 13 members, two of whom have been recruited this year through the leaflet sent out along with Blue Badge application forms and two through our new leaflets.
To promote our work three articles with photographs of members at work have been published by the Ross-shire Journal focussing on our need for volunteers, accessible footpaths and the importance of induction loops. This last one resulted in at least one new loop system being installed and we hope there are others unknown to us! There have also been 2 articles in the Gairloch Times, as well as occasional advertisements for our
meetings in both papers and on Two Lochs Radio.
In an attempt to increase our membership letters inviting project involvement have been sent to Gairloch High School and to the local Tourist Office, as yet without uptake.
New leaflets have been produced and distributed around the area, one advertising our services to the community and one aimed at recruitment of members.
Six meetings have been held in the year and to improve our skills and knowledge about disabilities and access solutions we have had talks from an architect, Alzheimers Scotland Action on Dementia, People First, Highland Council Deaf Services and on the new Equalities Act. These are usually advertised as open to the public, but this has not normally brought any new people to our meetings.
Members of the Group have also attended the following events to extend relevant knowledge:
Paths for All conference
Scottish Disability Equality Forum Conference
Course on Protection of Vulnerable People run by Volunteering Highland
Links with other Access Panels are maintained through having representatives at meetings of the Alliance of Highland Disability Access Panels (3 or 4 per year). May's meeting was hosted by ourselves. We have had a representative at the Scottish Disability Equality Forum AGM and conference and one of our members sits on their Board of Directors.
Our thanks go to all who have contributed to our work.