21 september 2017 oxfordshire guardian abingdon

Page 1

Out& About

pers.co.uk www.taylornewspa r 27, 2017 r 21 - Wednesday, Septembe Thursday, Septembe

Your guide for your leisure time in & around Oxfordshire

‘Curiouser and curiouser...’ Join a whole carnival of curiosity in Oxford

GROUP

Abingdon, Wantage and Faringdon

sed courtesy of Davis This property showca

Thursday, September 21 - Wednesday, September 27, 2017

ty details, see inside.

Jenny Eclair is out to prove she’s not insane, just gru mpy

Free

Don’t let to harder than There are many things or selling your home solicitor make buying specialist Conveyancing service. choosing the wrong Slade Legal about our it needs to be. Talk to Abingdon 01235 521920

In the pink and in the mud at charity challenge

Page 3

To view the proper

ME? MOVINGthinkHO house. about when moving

oxfordshireguardian.co.uk

Hounds and humans dress to impress

Tate Goring-on-Thames.

Pages 6&7

• 01235 511211 • Didcot

Wallingford 01491 839346

.co.uk

www.slade-legal

• enquiries@slade-legal.co.uk

Excellent! Top grade for leisure centre Page 20

Parents: Our children need N U F E H T N I O J E M CO better toilets to enjoy park UT O S S I M T ’ N O D A great Disabled facilities criticised

day out for all the family, come rain or shine

By Eva Astreinidou

PARENTS of children with disabilities are campaigning for more accessible toilets in a revamped play park so their children can enjoy the facilities as much as any other. When the £615,000 new look for Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow was opened in June, parents were delighted with the new facilities. But now, there are calls for better provision for all youngsters at the Vale of White Horse-run facility prompting parents to launch a petition which has so far collected more than 300 signatures. Mother-of-two Samantha Bennett, from Abingdon, is asking for the council to ‘make a change and do it right’. She said her five-year-old son has a disability and requires a hoist and bench facility to be able to go to the toilet with dignity. She added: “If the Vale refuse to alter their plans to include a changing place, they are denying access to my son to use the wonderful accessible park. This means that when his brother, cousins and friends go to the park, he has to stay at home because there is nowhere to change him.” Mum-of-three Karen said: “Why go to the trouble of making the park

more accessible to disabled people if these visitors are unable to use the toilets or changing facilities provided? “Wheelchair users who cannot self-transfer require an adult-sized changing bench and hoist to use the toilet or to have pads changed. Visitors with other disabilities may also require access to a changing bench.” Abbey Meadows consultation group spokesperson, Naomi Richardson, said: “The Vale are providing the absolute bare minimum in accessibility, using out of date standards that are soon to be replaced, so the toilets will be obsolete as soon as they are built.” In response to the complaints, Councillor Charlotte Dickson, cabinet member for leisure at Vale said: “We are continuing to work towards providing new public toilets at Abbey Meadow. “The plans for the toilets received planning permission earlier this year and were designed to national accessibility standards. Officers recently met with residents about the accessibility of these plans and are now considering their concerns.” The revamped play area included new equipment and pathways as well as the new toilet facilities. To sign the petition, visit https:// tinyurl.com/yde4fz87.

ALL AGES 6+ TUNNELS RINGO RIDES BIG BALLS BIG SLIDES Marching UN BIGinFmemory

Members of the military past and present took to the streets of Wantage on Sunday to mark the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Residents turned out in force to honour the country’s heroes. For more pictures see pages 8&9

Book online and save

www.oxfordaquapark.com Join the fun #oxfordaquapark

Queenford Lakes Watersports Centre, Burcot Lane, Berinsfield, Oxfordshire, OX10 7PQ

Like us on

FULL DETAILS INSIDE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.