A MONUMENT planned for the summit of Accrington's Coppice could open up parts of the landmark to disabled people.

Currently access to the Coppice, from Avenue Parade and Arden Hall is too steep and difficult for many elderly, infirm or disabled people to manage.

But if plans to build a 'panopticon' on the top of the site get the green light, routes up the Coppice could be altered to make it easier, as part of related improvements to the site.

Today the plans -- which could include smoothing pathways and including disabled parking spaces -- were welcomed by a local disabled support group.

Gayle Knight, spokesman for Mid Pennine Arts, the group behind the panopticon project, said: "It will be one of the things that will be looked into if further funding is brought into the site."

In nearby Rossendale a statue known as Halo -- originally planned for the Coppice but turned down by the council -- is set to go ahead, and among the work to be carried out as part of £300,000 worth of changes to the area are disabled access improvements.

Groups including 'Remade', an organisation which invests money in improving derelict areas, and development body Groundwork, are involved financially.

It is hoped that similar improvements and investment could be brought into Accrington if plans for the panopticon are approved by the council.

So far, conservation group English Heritage have indicated it may invest, and local group the Friends of Arden Hall is looking at funding improvements to access from the hall.

Today Susan Ripley, secretary of the Great Harwood and District Disabled Club, said: "Anything to help disabled people would be a benefit really. I am disabled so I know what it's like and you just don't get to go to those sort of places really.

"Sometimes they say disabled access and when it's put into place it isn't really that much good for disabled people. I think they would have to ask for disabled people to help them and make sure it's easy for disabled people at the end of the day."

Gayle added: "The Accrington and Rossendale sites are different. I wouldn't dare to say the Coppice was a derelict site, as people use it a lot.

"But it is in need of repair and it needs a little bit of tender loving care to get it to the glory that it once was."