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Disability
and Mobility Co-ordinator’s Page
The
Story So Far
Hello,
my name is Chris Hall and I am the Brookvale Community Association’s
Vulnerable Person’s Officer. I have
held this post since its conception in October 2004. The post was known previously as
Disability and Mobility Co-ordinator and it’s original intention was to
assist with the many disability enquires that can our way as a result on
the changes to the Disability Discrimination Act in October 2004.
Since
October 2004 there has been increased legislation within Britain as
regards equality. I have therefore
made it my mission to provide support and signposting to all areas of
equality to the best of my abilities.
In
Late 2006 I joined the Disability Forum for Basingstoke
and District and in doing so am now attending many meeting of the forum and
the forum’s sub-groups. Since
joining the forum I have aimed to joined as many
of its sub-groups and consultations as possible. These consultation
included an invitation from Sir George Young MP to the Houses Of Parliament
which was organised by RADAR to allow disabled people to raise concerns
about government policy, as well as audits like the Crown Heights
Bridge and the
redesigning of parking arranges in Lower Church Street.
I have
used the information which I gathered from the forum to help me deliver a
better service to Brookvale Community Association and the Brookvale area
most notably by informing the association on everything and anything which
may effect the association and its residents. This includes things like:
·
A number of borough consultation papers.
·
Crown Heights
Bridge restricted public right of Way
opening times.
·
Lower Church Street redesigning of parking
arrangements.
·
Proposals for The Malls Shopping Centre
I sit on the Brookvale Community Association’s
Development Sub-committee in order to help both advice and solve access and
equality issues raised by the various planning applications that come to
its attention.
I also sit on the BCOT/Brookvale Liaison Committee to
raise access and equality issued rose between the association and BCOT.
Issues I have
dealt with……..
I have
recently worked alongside County Councillor Jo Kelly to resolve the reduced
access issues to the alleyway between Highfield
Chase and Wording Road. We now have an alleyway accessible to
all.
I have
also raised concerns that a lift should be included in the Willis Museum refurbishment. It is believed a platform lift will be
provided between floors. A through
floor is not viable due to conservation restraints.
Some of the things I can do to
help you…..
I
intend to continue to develop the services I offer. Current if you have any of the following
issues or concerns please feel free to contact me:
·
Do you have trouble accessing BCA services?
·
Do you need help when booking the village hall?
·
Would you like to see more seating in public areas etc.?
·
Is the Website and Blurb information accessible to you?
·
Do you have any issue with accessing local services?
·
Would you like more/less street furniture i.e. lighting?
·
Are Pathways wide enough?
·
Is Parking Provision an issue for you?
·
Are there enough dropped kerbs and are they accessible?
·
Are The Street safe to use i.e. do you
find that shared footpath/cycleway use is a problem?
·
Do Wheelie Bins littler your route?
·
Are proposed plans of concern to you? will
there alteration make your route less safe or impossible?
·
Are services being relocated to areas which are difficult to
access?
Please
remember that just because your neighbour has written it does not mean you
don’t have to. The more
complaints/concerns the stronger the argument. Neither will my compliant on your behalf
carry as much weight.
Chris would like to stress that
he can only effectively act on your behalf if you all let him know your
concerns.
Planning
Issues
Chris is interested in access aspects of planning applications.
Contact him with any comments you have. All major applications have to
undergo access audits and these can reject in an application being
rejected. When contacting Chris on planning issues please include planning
reference number, proposal details and location details, all of which are
on the proposal letter.
The
Disability Forum
Chris
is part of the Disability Forum that is facilitated by the Borough Council.
He is taking part in the Central Area Planning Consultation, is part of the
Access Working Group and the Access Working Group Committee. For more information on the Disability Forum and to get
involved please contact: Jane Halls, Coordinator of Basingstoke &
District Disability Forum, The Orchard, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, 01256
423814, 0750 3311 650 jhalls@voluntaryservices.com
How
to Contact the Disability and Mobility Co-ordinator
Contact
Chris Hall either by:
·
Telephone (01256) 351074 (an answerphone
is available on this line).
·
e-mail at chris.hall@brookvale.org.uk.
For those of you which have e-mail this would be the preferred method as
Chris can raise your concerns more effectively.
·
At 3Cs Coffee mornings, where Chris holds a disability surgery.
·
By post c/o 169 Lower Brook Street RG21 7RP.
Whilst
Chris will endeavour to raise any concerns he cannot be held responsible
for anybody failing to acknowledge these concerns, neither can he be held
responsible if you are dissatisfied with the finished product although he will
try to rectify any dissatisfaction.
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