Wednesday 29 April 2020
Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services (ACLMS) is improving the slipway at Pembroke to make it more accessible. This will help people with disabilities, those with pushchairs, as well as others who have difficulty using steps.
Works will start to the slipway to the west of the Beach House Café today (Wednesday 29th April 2020).
The surface of the slipway will be altered to infill the worn steps and to provide a continuous concrete ramp to the centre of the slipway. The concrete surface will be slightly ridged to reduce the risk of people slipping on it.
Pembroke has one of the very few slipways around the Island which is shallow enough for beach wheelchairs and the new surface is intended to help more people enjoy a visit to this popular beach.
Guernsey Wooden Spoon, a charity dedicated to assisting children with disabilities with support from St John Ambulance is currently working to raise £16,000 for two specialised wheelchairs. They have also proposed that a locked storage hut for the beach wheelchairs could be sited near the top of the slipway for the convenience of users. This is subject to a successful fund raising appeal and approval by the Development & Planning Authority.
Beach wheelchairs have balloon wheels to enable travel over beaches and rough terrain and can even be used for paddling in shallow water. The beach wheelchairs are used with assistance from an adult helper to assist with transfers and pushing the chair on the beach, and will be available all year round for locals and visitors alike.
Environment & Infrastructure Committee member and Vale Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, the States' disability champion, said:
'I'm delighted that Pembroke slipway will be available for use for anyone who wants to use a beach wheelchair. Everyone living in Guernsey should be able to enjoy a day at the beach with their friends and family and I very much hope that Guernsey Wooden Spoon's fundraising for beach wheelchairs for Pembroke is successful.'
Anyone interested in helping with fundraising for the beach wheelchairs, or would like more information on the work of Guernsey Wooden Spoon should contact Karen Solway, chairman, at Guernsey@woodenspoon.org.uk or mobile 07911 741097.
