Rejoicing in Ripon: Forum raises awareness of Ripon’s continuing access issues

♿Forum raises awareness of Ripon’s continuing access issues

Ripon Disability Forum’s aim to make our city as accessible as possible for all people, will take another step forward next month. 👨🏼‍🦯‍➡️

Last year, with the support of partners including North Yorkshire Council, Ripon City Council, Ripon Together and Friends of Hell Wath, the forum launched its first release of an interactive map to help guide disabled residents and visitors safely around Ripon.

Now, following the Forum’s annual general meeting, which will be held at 2pm on Monday July 13th in Community House off Allhallowgate, attendees will be able to find out what it’s like for people with disabilities to navigate the city centre and adjoining streets. ♿

Forum trustee Jeremy Dunford, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:

“The awareness session following our AGM, will provide the opportunity for those who do not have disabilities to find out first hand, the issues that are faced every day of the week by people with wheelchairs, or who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired and want to make their way around Ripon.”

He pointed out: “As an ancient city, where streets and pavements can often be narrow and uneven and dropped kerbs and crossing points are in short supply, we need to find solutions that are safe, not only for disabled people, but also for parents with young children in prams and pushchairs.

“With wheelchair users, deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired people present at the AGM, meeting attendees will be invited to try out a wheelchair or walk around the city with disabled people to build understanding through real-like perspectives.”

Members of the public are welcome to attend the AGM and walk and can book their place by emailing: ripondisabilityforum.org.uk

To highlight some of the accessibility issues that Ripon still faces, Tim Flanagan, working in association with Ripon BID, took the following photos of streets where improvements are needed.

1. The footpath leading from Minster Road into St Mary’s Gate, narrows dramatically.
2. The only light-controlled crossing place on Allhallowgate is at the junction with St Mary’s Gate, Priest Lane and Stonebridgegate.
3. Disabled parking bays outside the Black Bull pub in Old Market Place are isolated and close to the busy Fishergate and North Street junction Caption
4. The pavement on Firby Lane, whose users include people going to Ripon Hospital, are in a poor condition