Letter to Mr.Peter Hynes Westport Town Council

Mr Peter Hynes
Town Manager
Westport Town Council

11th July 2005


Dear Peter,

I am writing to you in relation to the Barcelona Declaration concerning disabilities. As you know I have attended meetings organised by Mr Simon Wall in relation to car parking spaces in the town.

However it has been several months since the last meeting and several follow ups to the last meeting have not taken place even now. I was promised at the last meeting that the Town Engineer would accompany Elsie Higgins and myself around town to conduct a "snag" list of necessary action. I am disapointed that this has not yet happened.

I am also concerned with the layout, position, surface condition, access and signage in relation to several of the new and old disabled car parking spaces in the town and I would like to raise these issues, but again, there has not been a follow up meeting to allow me to do so.

Recently I have been assisting Ballina Town Council with the setting up of their Barcelona Committee to oversee their town's compliance with the declaration and I would respectfully suggest that Westport Town Council now form a committee to meet regularly and formally to address the town's disability needs.

I would also request to be a member of such a committee as I am qualified and willing to assist Westport in becoming a better place for all those with disabilities. I have noted that such a committee has been mooted on several occasions but that as yet nothing has happened. As the declaration is nearly 10 years old I think it is time Westport formalised its committment to disabilities.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely


Tom Chambers

Letter to Manager of Leisure Centre Westport

Mr. Dermot Langan
Manager
Westport Leisure Park
James Street
Westport
Co. Mayo.
01 03 05
Dear Dermot,

I want to thank you for your prompt reply and for my delay in getting back to you.

Westport Leisure Park is an excellent asset for the people of Westport and my only aim is to ensure that it is accessible to all.

With regard to the problems with the disabled toilets I would like to make the following observations.
The toilet was built to accommodate wheelchairs and the disabled however modifications to the toilet since then mean that it is no longer accessible to those in wheelchairs.
The original complaint was made to me as a host of the Special Olympics. The athlete in question did not feel it was appropriate to raise a complaint in light of the wonderful hospitality accorded to the athletes by your centre. Instead he mentioned it quietly to me and I have checked it out myself and as qualified and experienced Access Officer I can tell you that as it is at present the toilet is not up to standard. A small amount of work will put this right.
The situation with the lift is the big problem. You have dismantled your other lift as it is not up to the job and I must ask you on behalf of the disabled to purchase and fit one that is capable of lifting adults in and out of the pool. I will be happy to lobby with you for funding to make this happen.
The reception desk counter is very high for someone in a wheelchair and I would ask that you lower a section of it.
I would be happy to chat with you about any of the above matters to see what we can do together to make your centre into a totally accessible resource for the Westport area. I am happy to advise you on any other access related matters anytime.

Please feel free to contact me anytime and I look forward to hearing from you shortly.


Sincerely

____________
Tom Chambers
Access Officer
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport
Co. Mayo

Leisure Centre, Westport, Co. Mayo

Mr. Dermot Langan
Manager
Westport Leisure Park
James Street
Westport
Co. Mayo.
01 03 05
Dear Dermot,

I want to thank you for your prompt reply and for my delay in getting back to you.

Westport Leisure Park is an excellent asset for the people of Westport and my only aim is to ensure that it is accessible to all.

With regard to the problems with the disabled toilets I would like to make the following observations.
The toilet was built to accommodate wheelchairs and the disabled however modifications to the toilet since then mean that it is no longer accessible to those in wheelchairs.
The original complaint was made to me as a host of the Special Olympics. The athlete in question did not feel it was appropriate to raise a complaint in light of the wonderful hospitality accorded to the athletes by your centre. Instead he mentioned it quietly to me and I have checked it out myself and as qualified and experienced Access Officer I can tell you that as it is at present the toilet is not up to standard. A small amount of work will put this right.
The situation with the lift is the big problem. You have dismantled your other lift as it is not up to the job and I must ask you on behalf of the disabled to purchase and fit one that is capable of lifting adults in and out of the pool. I will be happy to lobby with you for funding to make this happen.
The reception desk counter is very high for someone in a wheelchair and I would ask that you lower a section of it.
I would be happy to chat with you about any of the above matters to see what we can do together to make your centre into a totally accessible resource for the Westport area. I am happy to advise you on any other access related matters anytime.

Please feel free to contact me anytime and I look forward to hearing from you shortly.


Sincerely

____________
Tom Chambers
Access Officer
Disability Campaigner
“The Billy Ranch”
Newport
Co. Mayo

Tom's letter of protest handed to Bertie

Mr Bertie Ahern T.D.
An Taoiseach
Department of the Taoiseach
Upper Merrion Street
DUBLIN 2

Friday, 07 September ‘02

Dear Taoiseach,
I am writing to you to complain about the state of the medical services in this county.
I myself am wheelchair bound. I this morning, rang Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar, County Mayo.
I asked to speak to my Community Care Dietician, to be to told that there is no longer a dietician working out of the hospital.
Also, I find it very difficult to get six weeks physiotherapy, something that is essential to the likes of myself. I find it difficult to get the treatment and care that I require.
The country is awash with money. Your spokespersons are advising that everything is wonderful, the economy is booming we are not short of nothing. Yet, when a person, such as myself, go looking for the most basic of services in hospitals etc., we are never able to get them.
Taoiseach, I am submitting this letter of protest to explain, that I, as a member of the general public am very dissatisfied with the level of service available, and am appalled at the way that persons in my position are treated.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Chambers.
"The Billy Ranch"
Knocknageeha
Newport
Co. Mayo