AN EFFORT to tackle the issue of disabled access in Bradford on Avon has received a £6000 boost courtesy of the town’s council and area board.

The project is called ‘Disabled Friendly Bradford on Avon’ and is fronted by Wiltshire Council community engagement officer Eamon McClelland, film producer Will Samson and the Bradford on Avon Community Area Network (BOA Can).

The scheme will seek to make the town more user-friendly for disabled service users and to boost trade in the town by catering more to those in wheelchairs, motorised scooters and pushchairs.

Mr McClelland, who narrated a film documentary shown at last month's full council meeting about the town's lack of accessibility and how to tackle its problems, was encouraged by the film's feedback.

“I was really pleased with how it went. The film gave some good, constructive criticism and the response was very positive,” said Mr McClelland, a former four-year long President of The Access Association of Great Britain.

“This project was initiated by myself and was taken up the town council and area board. They and Will Samson gave it some impetus to improve access to shops and services across the town.

“Installing ramps and better crossings would help but some very small things can be adopted by businesses like installing bells, intercoms, and signs to show the town is trying to improve.

“Some areas are not safe enough for wheelchair users along the bridge and there are problems with how the pavements are designed. We want to encourage positive change and improve accessibility for all.”

Both the town’s area board and council have pledged £3000 each for the making and screening of the film, brochures about the project and to launch the initiative itself.

Mr Samson, who previously worked with the BOA Can group in running a successful campaign to save the town’s youth centre, said: “I am very proud of it. It is such a worthwhile project and it was a pleasure to work with Eamon and BOA Can.”

“It is an important issue to highlight and hopefully it will encourage people to make Bradford on Avon a more disabled friendly place and raising awareness like this can really benefit the community.

“We’re working out ways to give businesses incentives for including better access points with a community sticker scheme. We want the town to become a pioneer for initiatives like these.”

Peter Dunford, Bradford on Avon’s community engagement manager, said: “The project is still ongoing and the next step is to show the film to the Chamber of Commerce and attempt to get local businesses on board.”

Mr Dunford hopes to get businesses on board with the scheme as well as completing the film documentary can be ready for the spring of 2016.

If the scheme builds momentum potentially more funding will become available to improve accessibility across the town.