Proposals to make Ryde beach more accessible revealed

Following a number of complaints to local authorities on the Isle of Wight regarding the accessibility of the island’s beaches, Ryde Town Council has put forward new proposals and applied for £10,000 worth of funding to make improvements to the beach.

The proposals include plans for beach and water wheelchairs to be made available, raised sunbeds, accessible beach huts and non slip polyester mats to allow for easier access across the sand to the seafront.

Speaking about the proposals, representatives from the Town Council said that they would need to have further consultation with the Isle of Wight Council to determine the exact location of an accessible stretch of beach, however there are plans to expand an accessibility improvement scheme that has already been launched on the island over the coming year. Currently, the Isle of Wight Council is in partnership with lifeguards at Sandown Beach, a scheme that saw all terrain wheelchairs being introduced.