Disabled access concerns at town

The surface was "bumpy" said John Idris Roberts.

A £2.4m redevelopment of Caernarfon town centre will make it impossible for disabled people to use, it is claimed by a disability access group.

Grwp Mynediad Arfon (the Arfon Access Group) said the slate and cobble surfaces used were impractical, and there were too few parking spaces.

It wants changes made to the design to make it safer, and more user-friendly for wheelchair users and blind people.

A spokesman for Gwynedd County Council said adjustments had already been made.

"We've discussed this with the council at length, quoting the relevant legislation," Sian Foulkes, the chairwoman of the access group.

"They intend to put just four parking places for the disabled which in my mind is not enough in such a busy area," she added.

Shopper John Idris Roberts, from Caernarfon, said the slate surface had been laid with too much of a gap in between the tiles making it a very bumpy ride for his mobility scooter.

My legs ache because of the bumps after I was pushed along it Ann Reynolds, holidaymaker

"It's very unpleasant and I'm scared to be tipped over," he said.

Visitor Linda Richardson from Durham added: "It's a problem for my walking stick as it goes into the groves."

John Ellis from the Caernarfon Club for the Blind said the group had not been consulted over the plans.

"My biggest fear is that someone will be killed because as it is, traffic will be allowed to go where they want to.

"With shared surfaces like this there needs to be eye contact between the drivers and pedestrians, but obviously this isn't going to happen with a blind person," he said.

'Adaptations'

"People who are not disabled have no idea what it feels like to be disabled, be that in a wheelchair or blind or whatever," he added.

A market is held in the square every Monday and Saturday.

Stall holder Sherazam Khan said the surface was "slippery, I've experienced that myself".

"Customers are also complaining to me," he added.

A Gwynedd County Council spokesman said there had been meetings with local access groups on a number of occasions to discuss the redevelopment of the area.

As a result a number of changes had been made, he said.

"These adaptations include installing an increased number of tactile pavements to assist blind or partially sighted pedestrians, adapting the design of a road crossing, and reducing the number of steps leading up to shops and businesses on the Maes to improve access," he said.

The council was committed to ensuring full access for disabled individuals and the council's equality officers and access officers were considering further points raised by the group, he added.