wheelchair access for all clubs to see

[jaysllim]

right i have asked chris hardisty if i could post the emails i have recieved of him regarding wheelchair access.so here they are for all the clubs to see,so now everybody knows as much as i no.

Hi,

Firstly I’m very sorry to hear about your circumstances that have led to you requiring wheelchair access.

We do have a responsibility to cater for wheelchair bound members of the BRCA. This is, of course, a difficult thing to implement. We collect your disability on the new database to “flag” any possible issues for anyone who has a disability. It’s early days as phase two is actually collecting the data from clubs so see how well they can cater for various disabilities. Although we haven’t got a listed number of clubs that stipulate disabled access it is quite proper for you to ask. So all you need to do is tell us where you wish to race and we will ask the question of the club. If they are unable to cater then we will investigate what is needed.

The above will not get wheelchair access permanently at every track but it will make it so an “open” competition is just that i.e. open to all with no disadvantages.

Any club that is unwilling to comply with making the effort does not get the opportunity to run Nationals. Any club that positively discriminates against disabled access is not welcome in the BRCA. Obviously there may be certain limitations such as access to a particular site i.e. you have to be able to get to the track, they cannot be responsible for access, but once you are there then the club should make every effort to cater for all.

The club you relate to needs to be made aware and then we, the BRCA, can make local authorities aware of your plight. This removes the burden from the club and places the issue with the local authorities. We can apply pressure in this area to get assistance.

Hope this helps.

Look forward to you reply.


Regards,


Chris Hardisty, BRCA Chairman

and this is the 2nd email


Hi,

I don’ have any issues with you posting “appropriate” content or complete sentences from any email as long as it reflects the original content.

I would suggest a hydraulic platform as access rather than a ramp. The latter uses up too much space. I would also suggest an approach to some of the “mobility for disabled” specialists for this equipment. Being able to put a business plan to a local council with solutions attached are more likely to get a positive response instead of the usual “can’t do “ that civil servants are trained to say.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.


hope it helps all the clubs

[adz2383]

Hi mate,

It is incredibly concerning that we live in 2011 and wheel chair/ disabled access is still an issue.

I am not sure whether you have experienced difficulties at a specific club or you are reflecting on issues generally, but for the record, the COBRA committee have been discussing ways to ensure we are accessible for everyone. The upcoming move to our new indoor location will give us an even greater opportunity to make sure this happens.

We would very much appreciate and welcome insight and empathy on this subject. If you or anyone else have some 'pointers' for specific or general requirements please do not hesitate to contact us.

The sooner we are in possession of this kind of information and guidance the better we can integrate it into our plans for the new venue.

I cannot guarantee things will happen 'over night' but it will be of the up most importance on our agenda moving forward.

I hope we can be of assistance in the future

Adam

[Dudders]

Originally Posted by adz2383

Hi mate, It is incredibly concerning that we live in 2011 and wheel chair/ disabled access is still an issue. Adam

Not a total shock surely as most clubs/tracks are squeezed in tight corners and run on small budgets.

[big dave]

Yesterday Swansea had its AGM and wheelchair access to the rostrum was discussed. Swansea will be building a ramp and a large enough area on the rostrum to turn a wheel chair on. Hopefully this will be done in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted on it.

As for our out door track, its not going to be easy, as we use a scafold rostrum. The only thing i have come up with is some kind of hydraulic platform that will attach to the end of the rostrum. Im wondering, as the cost will be high, as if the WRCA can club together to build/buy one. And it could be used at WRCA events. "but then where would it be stored etc, and who would have access to it when WRCA events were not held" Maybe we need a better idear for the out door season.

[mattybucks]

Originally Posted by big dave

Yesterday Swansea had its AGM and wheelchair access to the rostrum was discussed. Swansea will be building a ramp and a large enough area on the rostrum to turn a wheel chair on. Hopefully this will be done in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted on it.

As for our out door track, its not going to be easy, as we use a scafold rostrum. The only thing i have come up with is some kind of hydraulic platform that will attach to the end of the rostrum. Im wondering, as the cost will be high, as if the WRCA can club together to build/buy one. And it could be used at WRCA events. "but then where would it be stored etc, and who would have access to it when WRCA events were not held" Maybe we need a better idear for the out door season.

Just to let you know, any lifting equipment has to be LOLER tested every 6 months.

[jaysllim]

Originally Posted by big dave

Yesterday Swansea had its AGM and wheelchair access to the rostrum was discussed. Swansea will be building a ramp and a large enough area on the rostrum to turn a wheel chair on. Hopefully this will be done in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted on it.

As for our out door track, its not going to be easy, as we use a scafold rostrum. The only thing i have come up with is some kind of hydraulic platform that will attach to the end of the rostrum. Im wondering, as the cost will be high, as if the WRCA can club together to build/buy one. And it could be used at WRCA events. "but then where would it be stored etc, and who would have access to it when WRCA events were not held" Maybe we need a better idear for the out door season.

thanks dave for discussing it with the swansea club,the outdoor season is going to be probably the hardest bit for all the clubs as there is no real height restrictions from ceilings and so forth.but for now i geuss the easiest thing to do for now is cross that bridge when we get closer to the outdoor season starting up again.as regards to the wrca helping out with the financial side of things that i am unforunatly to say is something i cannot comment on as i do not know and am not apart of the commity so i geuss that would be something to be discussed at the agm when its held.

and adam i havent had any difficulties at anyone specific club because i have only just started racing again but so far the only club i have raced at is caldicot and they have been more thanhelpful with help getting up on the rostrum to the lay out of the track.i would be more than happy to come down to the venue to have a look with urselfs or the cobra club as regards to the rostrum and so forth.but what i will say is it will only be my personal view as i am not on the wrca committe so as i say it would be a personal view.

thanks again guys for supporting this matter.
jay

[DCM]

Right, just been having a browse, and found this

Temporary ramps
In situations where for whatever reason a permanent ramp cannot be installed in an existing building, a temporary ramp may be a preferred solution (though when designing new buildings this would not be acceptable).

Temporary ramps, especially long or heavy ones, can be awkward to handle. It may also be difficult to provide a top landing of recommended size. A temporary ramp’s rise should not exceed 500mm, and the gradient should not exceed 1:12. All ramps should be firm and secure in use.

source http://www.cae.org.uk/guidance_ramps.html

[Pops]

Originally Posted by DCM

Right, just been having a browse, and found this



source http://www.cae.org.uk/guidance_ramps.html

Hmn..1 in 12 and 500mm high max...er, somthin close to 20 feet long!!

[DCM]

A 6m ramp, this is the kind of information clubs need before they start trying to make rostrums disabled access. I shall see if I can find more information.