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Manx Newscast

It's claimed accessible parking spaces have 'drastically reduced'

Broadcast on:
28 Jul 2023

It's feared accessibility issues are impacting some disabled peoples' decisions to go out in public. 

The Manx Stroke Foundation has claimed that accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities have 'dramatically reduced'.

The charity says it wants to address the issues that its members have highlighted with government. 

 In response to the claims made in the interview, the Department of Infrastructure has told Manx Radio: "it tries to consider the needs of all passengers within the restrictions of operating a heritage railway and provides assistance for passengers wherever possible. This includes a specially adapted disabled tram, an accessible carriage and enhanced access platforms at main stations."

It adds it' grateful for the observation that the Douglas station car park is not the mandated width for disabled spaces and says this will be reviewed after the end of the season as the disabled bays are currently in regular use by customers.

Cycle 360 has told Manx Radio it makes them 'really sad' to hear someone has had that experience as the company had accessibility in mind when designing the purpose-built building including in the car park - which has one disabled parking space - cafe table access, a garden terrace ramp, dedicated disabled toilet and lift access to the first floor. 

The owner adds: "Cycle 360 is family-owned and we have family members who require wheelchairs, so not only was it key from a commercial point of view and Cycle 360 being a space for everyone, it was personal to me and my family too, to ensure we provided that.”