Complaints beaches in Ryde were inaccessible for people with mobility issues over the summer have led to a major bid for accessibility improvements.
Proposals to make a stretch of Ryde beach accessible to wheelchair users and people who struggle with mobility were seen at the Ryde Town Council meeting on Monday.
Following consultation with Isle Access and Unlimited Island, the town council is proposing key improvements including:
- The installation of a non-slip polyester mat — creating a route on the sand towards the sea
- Beach and water wheelchairs and beach walkers people would be able to hire
- Two accessible beach huts
- Wheelchair-friendly picnic tables
- Raised sunbeds
Further consultation with the Isle of Wight Council is needed, the town council says, to determine the exact location of the accessible stretch of beach.
To fund the improvements, Ryde Town Council has applied for £10,000 from a South Western Railway fund which promotes accessibility and inclusion projects.
The town council said the railway company favours applications which have match funding, so agreed at its meeting on Monday to either match the £10,000 or 30 per cent of the total cost.
If the latter is chosen, the town council said it would look for other partners to fund the project.
Mayor Michael Lilley said accessibility to beaches was something the council had wanted to achieve for a long time, so the potential grant funding would help do that.
Sandown Town Council, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council and the Sandown Beach Lifeguards, has recently launched all-terrain wheelchairs.
The wheelchairs can be borrowed, for a £20 refundable deposit, and help people with mobility issues reach the sand and sea.
There are plans to expand the scheme next year.
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