Disabled Access and speed bumps

Countrylass · Dec 23, 2011

Just this last week we stayed on one of our favourite CC sites. Since our last visit speed bumps have been installed and they are disastrous for me. I am disabled and need to use either a wheelchair or mobility scooter to get around on site. My scooter grounds on the top of the bumps and they are too high for me to be able to push the chair over. Without going off the road onto the grass there is no way round them and the scooter and chair both struggle on grass. Unless we manage to secure the "right" pitch I can't even access the disabled shower room.
I know that speeding has to be curbed on sites but it seems that no consideration has been given to the less able. Even someone on foot with a stick or crutches would have a problem too.
I have e-mailed the CC and await an answer but don't think there will be any change as they will probably cite safety grounds as the reason for them.

Gabsgrandad · Dec 23, 2011

I don't see why they can't take the "middles" out of the humps wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through, but leaving the sides intact where the vehicles have to go over. Is there a catch to this?

colin-yorkshire1 · Dec 23, 2011

hi all.
All sites wether private or club have a duty of care for their visitors and the reason some have adopted speed humps however they have also to provide disabled access to amenities in the form of special pitches or roadways on site it may be well worth asking on booking how they deal with dsiabilities and if the answer is vauge dont go there a bind if it is a favorite site but not worth ruining a holiday,

ProfJohnL · Dec 23, 2011

The Govt direct website
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068

I think that any organisation that makes access for a disabled person more difficult could find themselves in deep water.

If a proper design architect had been used for the deployment of these humps, they should have made provison for wheelchair (and scooter) borne persons, especially as neither space nor exsisting buildings could prevent a proper scheme being developed.
If you do not get a reply, or a reply that sugegst no action will be taken, then seriously consider reporting the site as outlined in the web pages.

Bri2 · Dec 23, 2011

In the latest CC mag there was this letter and reply. Read into it what you will!!!!!
Got the hump!
SPEED HUMPS are not needed on the majority of Club sites. This is not only my opinion but other members who I have spoken to. The staggered humps are very severe and many people have had trouble with caravan lockers opening when driving over them, even when great care is taken.
M A Brown, via email

Comment: As you might expect, this issue is of high importance as the Club is anxious to prevent accidents and provide as safe an environment as possible for visitors to enjoy.
You will note that over time the Club’s rules have been amended to encourage safe and sensible practices on site. We have also
conducted risk assessments across the network and installed barriers, gates, fences, chicanes, pedestrian crossings and other traffic-calming measures in an effort to minimise risk to adults and children alike.
You will find more speed humps are being installed (rated for 10mph).
So there you go,, My comment

Countrylass · Dec 23, 2011

Thanks everyone for your input. Yes, we thought that taking the middle out of the bumps would be the answer but the warden we talked to said that when they did that then some motorists deviated to go through the space and then the other wheel went onto grass. In the past when I've asked for a pitch close to the disabled facilities I've met with mixed responses from CC wardens. Some can't do enough and others say that they cannot reserve pitches. I even got the latter response when I wrote to CC HQ.
I don't really want special treatment but I want to be able to access things easily.

Surfer · Dec 24, 2011

Bri said:
In the latest CC mag there was this letter and reply. Read into it what you will!!!!!
Got the hump!
SPEED HUMPS are not needed on the majority of Club sites. This is not only my opinion but other members who I have spoken to. The staggered humps are very severe and many people have had trouble with caravan lockers opening when driving over them, even when great care is taken.
M A Brown, via email

Comment: As you might expect, this issue is of high importance as the Club is anxious to prevent accidents and provide as safe an environment as possible for visitors to enjoy.
You will note that over time the Club’s rules have been amended to encourage safe and sensible practices on site. We have also
conducted risk assessments across the network and installed barriers, gates, fences, chicanes, pedestrian crossings and other traffic-calming measures in an effort to minimise risk to adults and children alike.
You will find more speed humps are being installed (rated for 10mph).
So there you go,, My comment

Typical wishy washy non-committal patronising reply from the club! Not sure why people should risk damaging their cars or caravans on these speed humps even when travelling at 5mph. If you have skirts around the vehicle they will be damaged especially the front one.

Countrylass · Dec 24, 2011

I'm not expecting a helpful reply from the CC but if no-one complains then they will assume that there isn't a problem. I must go and look for the CC mag and read the letter Bri mentions. I sometimes skim through it meaning to go back and read thoroughly later.

Bri2 · Dec 24, 2011

The letter was published on 24 Nov 11 which is Dec issue of the mag in readers letters. You can also see it in the archived issues on the CC web site but you will need to log in.
Bri

emmerson · Dec 26, 2011

Country lass said:
Thanks everyone for your input. Yes, we thought that taking the middle out of the bumps would be the answer but the warden we talked to said that when they did that then some motorists deviated to go through the space and then the other wheel went onto grass. In the past when I've asked for a pitch close to the disabled facilities I've met with mixed responses from CC wardens. Some can't do enough and others say that they cannot reserve pitches. I even got the latter response when I wrote to CC HQ.
I don't really want special treatment but I want to be able to access things easily.

Country lass, seasons greetings. If people dodge the bumps by taking to the grass, may I suggest that a cheap and simple preventative would be to put a post each end of the bump, on the edge of the road?
I fully sympathise with the problem, as my wife, on a bad day is wheelchair-dependent.

Robtel · Dec 26, 2011

Speed humps, sleeping policemen, call them what you will are certainly not my favourite obstructions to encounter whether towing or not. Emmerson's suggestion to the alleged problem of those using a cut out section in the centre to avoid them and thereby in the process going onto the grass verge seems simple and effective.
Bottom line is why do the C.C. need all the risk assessments and safety measures they have mentioned? Answer - because thoughtless, inconsiderate and dangerous individuals, many who are members of the club don't heed the on-site speed limits and are a danger to others. In an ideal world they should be flung off site and out of the Club but I realise that there is problems associated with that - how do you prove they were driving above any imposed limit, do we really want speed cameras on site rather than speed humps?
I hope the C.C. have a re-think and take the needs of Country Lass and others in similar circumstances into account.

Countrylass · Dec 27, 2011

Thanks Bri, I found the mag and read the letter. It doesn't bode well for the future.
Emmerson, Seasons Greetings to you and your good lady too. Your idea sounds great but somehow I think it will be too clever for the CC. Few people really appreciate the difficulties of using a wheelchair so I think that those in authority should spend some time in one to see things for themselves. For instance, my local supermarket has a powered scooter which can be borrowed but they then clutter up the aisles with baskets and towers of things which you can't get past.

emmerson · Dec 27, 2011

CL, ref the supermarket aisles with obstructions: do as Herself did when her small mobility scooter wouldn't fit.She simply knocked the display over and drove though! One or two people tut-tutted, but most thought it hilarious.After we explained why she diid it, the manager was quite apologetic, and the display was moved.
I won't go into my feelings on cars parked on the pavement though............................................!

Countrylass · Dec 28, 2011

Empty post (likely not intentional - probably an Internet Explorer issue!)

Surfer · Dec 28, 2011

emmerson said:
CL, ref the supermarket aisles with obstructions: do as Herself did when her small mobility scooter wouldn't fit.She simply knocked the display over and drove though! One or two people tut-tutted, but most thought it hilarious.After we explained why she diid it, the manager was quite apologetic, and the display was moved.
I won't go into my feelings on cars parked on the pavement though............................................!

Although I don't use a mobility scooter in a supermarket yet, I do find it annoying when they have these large baskets in the aisle obstructing one's passage and you have to squeeze pass.

GrahamDerby · Dec 29, 2011

Hi Surfer , I complained once to Derbyshire police about a car parked on the pavement and was told , its ok so long as a pram or mobility scooter can get past, Police !! what a joke .

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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Disabled Access and speed bumps

Countrylass

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ProfJohnL

Bri2

Countrylass

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Countrylass

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Countrylass

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Surfer

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