Wheelchair user Ursula proud of securing €30,000
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council has committed €30k to addressing issues raised by a local wheelchair user, who compiled a report of the obstacles she faces each day when trying to access community services.
Ursula Bishop attends day services at St Michael’s House in Templeogue and regularly encounters obstacles and hazards when travelling to the local shops, church and café.
Ursula Bishop complied a report of the obstacles she faces each day
Speaking with The Echo, Ursula said that she wants to connect with local community services, but that accessing them is not easy – so, she compiled a report complete with pictures for South Dublin County Council.
Ursula’s practical report, which is relevant for anybody with a mobility issue, documents her journey from St Michael’s House to the nearby Orwell shopping centre in her electric wheelchair.
The most direct route to the shops from St Michael’s House is a no-go for Ursula, as it’s accessed by steps, with a kissing gate blocking access at a second entrance point further down the road.
These two obstacles force Ursula to travel the long route to the shop.
High kerbs along the route also create difficulties for Ursula, who sometimes has to travel along the main road as she cannot get her wheelchair safely up onto the footpath.
Cracks in paths and uneven paving also creates hazards for Ursula, who believes that these issues could also pose problems for older residents living in the area.
Some of the obstacles and hazards Ursula faces
“I’m in an electric wheelchair and can’t get around too easy,” Ursula told The Echo.
“People who don’t use a wheelchair wouldn’t even notice these things but hopefully now that the council has the report they can do something.”
Stephen Hennessey, manager of St Michael House, told The Echo: “Simple things like going to the shop, the local church or for a coffee are an obstacle for Ursula.
“Ursula made a decision through her training here to connect more with community services but when she tries she is faced with obstacles.”
Ursula gave her report to local councillor Pamela Kearns (Labour) who brought the submission to council management.
“This report is from a person who has to live it every day and from a wheelchair user’s perspective,” Cllr Kearns said.
“Ursula went out and took pictures of trip hazards, cracked paths, places where she had to take detours.
“This is a very practical report… and it will also benefit the wider community, including older people and those with mobility issues.”
Cllr Kearns told The Echo that council management has decided to carry out an access audit within the area based on Ursula’s report, and also agreed to allocate €30k to address issues identified.
“There was no point having an access audit done if there was no money to do anything with it,” Cllr Kearns said.
“I asked the other councillors to support the allocation of €30k to help address the issues Ursula highlighted, and they did.
‘Learn from this report’
“We can learn from this report… and I think all planning needs to take into account people who need extra support.”
When asked how she feels about her report securing €30k, Ursula said: “I am very proud of myself and my family are too.
“Templeogue Village is not the easiest to get around either, so that’s my next project.”
South Dublin County Council confirmed to The Echo that the access audit will take place in the first half of next year.
The council said that it carries out these audits across communities on an ongoing basis.
