New hope for wheelchair access at Millom post office

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A LONG-RUNNING battle to have wheelchair access installed at a community post office looks set to be resolved.

Millom Post Office has large steps at the entrance and is inaccessible by wheelchair.

South Copeland Disability Group, which has led a year-long campaign to install a ramp outside, met Post Office, Royal Mail representatives, and Millom sub-postmaster Ged McGrath, yesterday (10) to decide what kind of ramp would be most suitable for the St George’s Road building.

Kay Allen, head of social policy and inclusion for Royal Mail, ruled out the installation of a lift outside the branch because of fears about its reliability.

In a unanimous vote SCDG decided a ramp would be the most suitable option and also ruled out the option of a lift.

Ms Allen added: “The other two options we have got are the ramp options. Once it is in, a ramp won’t break down.”

Two styles of ramp have been suggested. One is a steep ramp which would hug the side of the building and make a sharp turn into the entrance.

The second is a long shallow ramp which would start at the HSBC bank next door and slowly make its way to the post office entrance.

Royal Mail has now agreed to draw up artist’s impressions of what each ramp would look like and will foot the bill for all the work.

Gary Jackson, chairman of SCDG, said: “We are delighted that the Royal Mail and Post Office have worked with us.”