ashfordaccess.org.uk

Our History

MID 1990s

Following a suggestion by Alan Goodhew, the Chairman of SADA - the Shepway Association for Disabled Access - now under the wing of the Wheelchair Users Group, a working party was formed by the Ashford Borough Council Access Officer, the local CVS Office and representatives of local voluntary groups.

1996

First Open Meeting held to encourage interest of other parties, and to form the first Executive Committee - see Committee page for current Executive Committee content - designed to allow advice to be given on problems experienced by those suffering from sensory and physical disabilities, as well as technical environmental advice, and of problems experienced by both young and elderly people, whilst promoting 'Access for All'. During the next nine months, other volunteers were co-opted on to the Committee, and two sub-committees were set up:

the Planning and Consultation Committee
the Link Group (now disbanded)

1997

At April AGM, the standing Chairman resigned and Lawrie St John was elected to the Chair.

1998/1999

At the AGM's during these years, the Chairman and Executive Committee were re-elected and the Chairman was able to restructure the Committee to the present day content. Note: In 1997, the Chairman produced an Information Leaflet/Membership Application Form, which was significant in increasing the membership from the 1997 Committee of 9 to the present day figure of 75 - see Membership Analysis - which includes 41 disabled persons and 17 member organisations. A membership fee was also introduced to help with the costs of producing and posting the quarterly newsletter introduced by the Chairman. The Group has an excellent working relationship, whilst remaining autonomous, with all departments of Ashford Borough Council and Kent Highways. This partnership has proved very beneficial in helping to resolve disabled and elderly people's problems, both on the Borough Highways and the built environment.

All of this was greatly assisted by the production of an Access Consultation Document by Borough Council Building Control, Chief Surveyor & Access Officer and Group Committee Member, Andrew Neilson. The document was originally for circulation to the members of the Kent Access Forum, of which both Andrew and the Chairman are members, to help co-operation between Access Groups and Council Planning Departments. Spring 1999 saw the Group becoming involved with the Borough Council's Town Centre Study, by carrying out Access Audits on premises owned by retail outlets, commercial businesses and service providers. At the same time, and in order to try and persuade property owners to open up their premises to disabled people, an Access Award Scheme was introduced by the Chairman - basically a three tiered Certificate Scheme (Bronze, Silver and Gold) with each showing compliance to a set of criteria, applicable to sensory and physical disabilities. All sizes of businesses/service providers can apply. The first successful applicants received their Awards from the Mayor of Ashford at the 1999 Autumn Open Meeting. Two Open Meetings are held each year, normally the AGM in April, the other in the autumn, which can also be an SGM.

2001

Damian Green, MP for Ashford, Kent, accepted the position of Patron of this Access Group, saying he was "pleased and honoured" to have been asked to be Patron.

Mr Green has been a good supporter of the work of this Group, taking a personal interest in some of the Helpline cases, and has also regularly attended the twice a year Open Meetings of the Group since they were introduced in 1998.

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