Report on Chester Park and Ride

I went into Chester today to go on a Park and Ride, to check on access for disabled passengers. I found it to be fantastic and i would recommend it to everyone that is disabled. I was blown away by how little it cost, you only have to pay for the all day ticket which on a bank holiday was £2 per person, which included being able to hop on and off. I didn’t do this but you can. 

It is a lot easier to get around Chester, without having to search for an accessible parking space. The buses are great and very accessible, but my only gripe with it would be the accessible stop button isn’t accessible enough. You can see it over my left shoulder in the picture below.

 

An example of good service.

I have been getting my wheelchairs repaired and serviced by a company called Rosscare for many years now and I can honestly say that they have kept me going.

If I need one of my chairs looking at they go out of their way to fit me in for a visit. They are always professional and courteous. I would be lost without their prompt and effective service.

You can get to talk to someone you know and have a good rapport with, which makes a huge difference. My contact, Carolyn, is brilliant when I phone for anything.

You may already use their service through the NHS, but if you go private, they are contactable at:

Ellesmere Port Shop Retail Shop

140 Chester Road Whitby Ellesmere Port CH65 6SA

Call Free now on 0800834829

Email:- ellesmere.port@rosscare.co.uk

A Good Accessible Taxi Service in Penrhyn Bay.

Another good taxi service I have found to be reliable is Ray’s of Penrhyn bay.

A comfortable accessible taxi and friendly drivers, like Dave, make all the difference.

As well as cars, they have minibuses and accessible vehicles available.

I highly recommend them.

Ray’s Taxis
TRAFFORD PARK,
PENRHYN BAY
LL30 3HD
LLANDUDNO,
GWYNEDD

01492541143

Access to Conwy RSPB Reserve

Have you ever wondered what you could do with all the mud left over from building a tunnel under the Conwy estuary? No, me neither.

But, what they did do was to make a nature reserve for the RSPB at Conwy.

Situated on the banks of the Conwy estuary, with magnificent views of Snowdonia and Conwy Castle, this reserve is delightful at any time of year.

Accessibility for Disabled

Car parking

Accessed from the main A55 expressway along a tarmac drive. The car park is rolled stone and there are specific bays marked for disabled visitors in the area nearest to the visitor centre. The car park has a height restriction of 2 m, with limited parking outside the barrier.

Access to visitor centre, shop and coffee shop

There are dedicated parking bays in front of the Visitor Centre for registered blue-badge holders. Entrance to the Visitor Centre is directly from the car park via either a short flight of three steps or a wheelchair ramp from the disabled parking bays.

On entrance to the Visitor Centre, facing you is the reception desk and to the right the shop. Walking through the shop, a doorway with a small ramp takes you out onto the reserve and to a tarmac path leading directly to the coffee shop.

A large panoramic window looks out onto one of the lagoons of the reserve and then out to the Conwy Valley and the peaks of Snowdonia. Telescopes are available for people to use. Outside the coffee shop a number of wheelchair accessible picnic tables are available.

Toilets

Unisex adapted toilets are available for disabled visitors within the coffee shop.

Access to trails

The trails are firm and generally level though a little rough in places. Wheelchair access is recommended only for the first kilometre – a loop that features two hides and a children’s trail before returning to the visitor centre.

It is possible to circle the entire site (3 km), including a section beside the Conwy estuary, but the surface is slightly less compacted though is level. Powered chairs are capable of this longer route. The estuary can be viewed from cars beside the entrance road, at the bottom of the slope, however parking here is limited.

Audio trail cassettes are available for the hard of hearing.

Hides

Two hides are within 500 m of the visitor centre overlooking the lagoons. All the hides are accessible to wheelchairs, with suitable bays for birdwatching.

One hide and two viewing screens on the estuary route are not easily accessible with rather steep approaches from the perimeter track.

Wheelchairs

One wheelchair available for loan – contact the reserve for availability.

Opening times

The shop and visitor centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30 am-5 pm. The coffee shop is open from 10 am-4.30 pm (to 4 pm from November to March).

Entrance charges

Members free. Non-members: adults £2.50, concessions £1.50, children £1.

Phone Number

01492 584091

Me on My Tilt Bed

 

Here is a Photograph of me using my Standing Tilt Table.

I use this every morning to enable me to stand up straight, it is important to help with my posture.

Without this table and being able to use it regularly, I would suffer terribly from being sat in a chair for long periods. I would end up leaning forward, after a time, and this becomes very uncomfortable. You get to the point where you can not get back up again.

Aids like this are very important to me, and I am looking forward to getting a new wheelchair and ultra comfortable electric bed.

I thought I would put a post about this up so people know the sorts of things out there and so they realise, with a bit of pushing, you can get what you need.

Can I send out a big Thank You to the Guys at Rehab Engineering, Especially Chris Daniels, and to Iain Mitchell at Glan Clwyd Hospital.