A PORTION of Blackpool residents still feel excluded from the town centre.

As promotions begin for disabled equipment scheme Blackpool Shopmobility, a new action group has formed in the area.

Access For All was born on January 19 this year and feel the measures taken by Blackpool Borough Council to upgrade disabled shopping and leisure facilities are simply not enough.

Chairman Clarissa Clarke said: "We are currently fighting for an appointment with the relevant officers to discuss improvements.

"Ideally we would like to see 'no waiting' bays for taxis and private vehicles added at strategic points in the town centre so there could be a safe and convenient dropping off place for people with limited mobility.

"At the moment these are few and far between and often badly placed so passengers are being offloaded into speeding traffic. Not all of us move as quickly as we would like. Also the continental idea of using traffic calming measures, such as uncontrolled crossings, would be a boon to the less abled in the community." Access For All also intends to introduce a grading scheme for public buildings and accommodation in the area bringing special needs required by people with limited mobility to the fore.

Blackpool town centre manager Nigel Hanson said of the Shopmobility scheme: "We are targeting town centre businesses to encourage them to make their premises readily accessible.

"I am delighted Blackpool Town Centre Forum has the opportunity of working with Blackpool Shopmobility to develop this campaign for Fylde coast residents."

For more information on Access For All or to become a friend of the group call Clarissa Clarke on 01253 836289.

Blackpool Shopmobility can be contacted on 01253 753331.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.