Council plan for disability access to all public areas

NO public place is to be out of bounds for people with disabilities under an ambitious plan by one county’s local authorities to ensure every publicly owned site and service within its boundaries is accessible.

The joint project by the county and urban councils in County Clare will audit 54 towns and villages and will review access to every public building, car park, amenity area, beach, playground, pier, public toilet, landfill site, fire station, library, road, footpath, pedestrian crossing and burial ground.

A series of public consultations begins next week at different locations around the country. County engineer, Tom Carey, said it was hoped to complete the audit by the end of April.