Comments on Council Services
Council meetings and general issues
- Main Guildhall – the lift is too small for some wheelchairs. (Note: the Council is aware of this; unfortunately it is not possible to increase the size of the lift shaft).
- There need to be adjustable height tables for Council meetings.
- Council officers should have sufficient training so that, for example, wheelchair users are not moved/pushed (eg across the room) without their agreement.
Communication/alternative formats
- It is very irritating for a visually impaired person to have to tell all Council departments individually about their communication needs
- Council tax and benefits and electoral registration services should keep a record of residents’ communication needs (in particular large print). (Note: Council tax and benefits do keep records of residents’ communication needs; this facility needs to be more widely known).
Housing
- Contractors doing housing repairs are not aware of blind residents – there should be proper communication to ensure that they are
Leisure Services
- The lift at the Malden Centre is too small for some powered wheelchairs.
Community Care Services
- Benefits advice should be available for people under pension age.
- Care managers are not informing users of the availability of benefits.
- People with learning disabilities need to be helped to access appropriate services and support.
- The Council should involve the voluntary sector in individual cases at an earlier stage, rather than leaving it to the last resort.
- There still seems to be a very long wait for stairlifts.
Environmental Services
- The assisted collection service for waste and recycling is much appreciated.
- Some pavements are very narrow and are not wheelchair-friendly.
- Footways on main roads are given priority but footways on side roads should also be repaired to make them more accessible and useable by disabled people.
- A pavement repair outside the Old Police Station in New Malden has been poorly done and the paving stone is wobbly. (Note: since the event the repair has been re-done properly).
Shopmobility
- What is the protocol for Shopmobility staff when there is insufficient parking for disabled users of the service?
Other issues – Kingston Post Office
- There are access and fire safety difficulties at the main Post Office in Kingston. (Note: there is an alternative escape route available at the Post Office end of the shop).
- It is very difficult for a wheelchair user to weigh parcels.