At the beginning of May I was invited along to the Hospital Road Community Centre in Omagh, in my joint roles as My Way Access and Chairperson of Omagh Access Forum, to meet with Wayne Campion (secretary) and Amanda Hannigan (treasurer) to discuss an ongoing accessibility issue at the centre, they were experiencing for people with disabilities, mobility problems and with buddies on their grounds.
On the council owned grounds, there is a security that is closed every day at 5pm and over the weekends, how the community centre operates beyond these hours and at the weekend. With the gate shut, there is no alternative way of getting in, as there are no further lower curves to allow safe entrance.
The Association has been lobbying through an intergency group for a disabled access of the footpath at the front of the community centre.
The interagency meeting has Supporting Communities NI, DRD Road Service, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (then Omagh District Council), PSNI Omagh, Community Members, Northern Ireland Housing Executive that all sit on the meetings bi-monthly to address issues and concerns.
This disability access has been on the agenda for approx. 3-4 yrs.
My Way Access received a telephone called from Fermanagh and Omagh District councillor DUP‘s Errol Thompson that the work will begin shortly after a survey of work the week earlier in the week. I welcome the news and I look forward to seeing people of all persuasions and mobility ability will have full access to this wonderful facility in Omagh.
Another success story for My Way Access.