A COUNCIL pledge that disabled people will have easier access to the town hall has delighted a wheelchair-bound councillor.

Coun Sandra Twigg, who has to use a wheelchair, is the chairman of Todmorden Town Council's Amenities Committee.

She has campaigned for improved wheelchair access and has now had successful talks with the man responsible.

George Candler said that it had been hoped to improve access at Todmorden Town Hall for a number of years, but the plans had not progressed much until now.

He said: "I am pleased to say, however, that potential funding has been identified, subject to a major capital scheme going through in the early part of March, 2001.

"Should this come to fruition, then the funding for the access improvements to Todmorden Town Hall will become available."

Mr Candler says that he has been working on the project since the summer of 1999, and has had several site meetings with Coun Twigg.

He said it was proposed to have ramped access into the town hall through the entrance near the roundabout, together with an eight-person passenger lift and unisex toilet near the existing gents' toilet.

Mr Candler said that a scheme was currently being drawn up by the architects' section and when this was done a presentation would be given to the town council to get feedback on the proposals.

Coun Twigg said this was very encouraging news from the officer, after they had been forcibly campaigning for some time, and it was a much more positive report than the committee had dared hope for.