Last weekend, my Mum, who uses a wheelchair, came up to Scarborough (her birthplace) for a reunion at The Spa. My sister drove her the 285 miles each way and ferried her about like a good 'un, also attending the same reunion.
I was shocked at the poor facilities my home town offers disabled people. Most hotels that claim to have disabled facilities often have just one room, however many bedrooms they have to let. Many restaurants are totally unsuited to people in wheelcha
irs, with steps, small doorways and inadequate space to accommodate diners using them.
Heaven knows what would happen in the event of a fire.
Hedges and trees from hotel and private gardens in the area near our excuse for a swimming pool are so overgrown, they encroach on to the footpaths, making it all but impossible to negotiate without being scraped and beaten by branches; I’m pretty sure there’s a council department (that obviously spends most of its time behind a desk) which can enforce pruning, but why dont the owners think to do it?
Our wonderful town needs all the tourists it can get and all the good words they can spread.
Right now, it looks as if no-one cares, though I know of course there are many who do.
I’m appalled at the ease with which some businesses take the money from people like my mum, whilst offering lip service in return.
Matt Watkinson
Stepney Road
Scarborough
The full article contains 251 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
