In News

A package of measures are being put in place following recommendations from the Beach Accessibility Working Group by Brighton and Hove City Council to make the beaches and seafronts in the region more accessible.

The improvements are being spearheaded by a group made up of representatives from the Beach Access Team Brighton and Hove originally supported by Scope and officers from the council’s seafront team. The aim is to provide safe and independent access for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. Recently, the group has overseen the installation of a Changing Places facility and a new wheelchair accessible beach deck in central Brighton. The group are hoping to put something similar in place in Hove.

Projects, including plans to redevelop the Black Rock Broadwalk to create a wheelchair accessible pathway, and the Kingsway to the Sea project, which aims to create a new park and a Changing Places facility. Blue badge parking has been improved with double the amount of spaces now available at Madeira Drive and three beach wheelchairs are now available to borrow at no charge from the seafront office in Brighton. The chairs can be used on shingle beaches and an all terrain electric wheelchair is currently being tested and will be available soon.

Speaking about the improvements, Cllr Steph Powell at Brighton and Hove City Council, told reporters: “Every year millions of visitors arrive in the city to enjoy our seafront and beaches, so it is vital that we do everything we can to ensure they are accessible for everyone. Working with the Beach Access Working Group has enabled us to deliver improvements which are making a real difference for those with mobility issues. I think everyone who has been involved in this work so far and am excited to see our future plans improve accessibility over the coming months.”

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