Yahoo News 90-year-old's victory in river path campaign
A 90-year-old Dorchester resident said she is ‘delighted’ after a safety barrier was removed at the entrance to a path, allowing her to access a beauty spot on her mobility scooter.
As previously reported, Amanda Dore was blocked from using the picturesque walk along the River Frome as she could not manoeuvre her mobility scooter, nicknamed Eva the Diva, through the entrance to the path on London Road.
After raising the issue with the Echo, Dorset Council removed one of the barriers completely to make the walk more accessible.
Dorset Council removed the barrier on London Road (Image: Alfie Lumb)
Now, Mrs Dore can access the path on Eva, just in time to enjoy the sunny weather.
Amanda Dore next to the River Frome (Image: Alfie Lumb) She said: “Isn’t it glorious? It’s opened my world, and now I can get out and go down to Lidl’s. I’ve already been down it a few times.
"There is a social element to it too. Often people along the river will stop to chat and sit for a while with their dogs. On a nice afternoon, I come here and have so many people to talk to.
"I’d like to say thank you to the council for the works, and it’s not just me that’s come forward to say it, but many other people with buggies, pushchairs or scooters who have had the same problems."
Previously, to get to the Grove to go shopping, Mrs Dore would have to go via High West Street and Glyde Path Road, which proved to be dangerous particularly in icy conditions.
She said: "During the winter the roads are often icy, and I’d have to go around and down Glyde Path Road. Like a car, I thought I’d slipped on the ice coming down the hill once and never came here again in the winter."
Glyde Path Road was Amanda Dore's alternative route to the shops (Image: Alfie Lumb) She added that now she is 'more confident' to make the journey, given the more level surface of the footpath.
Mrs Dore said that she still faces some issues regarding mobility on the path as she was struggling to get past plants that had overgrown on the verge of the river bank. At one point her wheels got caught in the plants.
Amanda Dore said that the plants on the river side need to be cut (Image: Alfie Lumb) She said: “It is a really pretty walk, but this is another problem. We could certainly do with a clear out.”
A spokesperson for Dorset Council, said: "Our team work hard to manage the near-3,000 miles of public rights of way in Dorset. Working closely with landowners and volunteers, we investigate reports received from members of the public and user groups and carry out practical work across the county.
“We try to strike a balance between protecting the natural environment, preserving historical features, and making sure as many people as possible can safely use our network. In this instance, the barrier was limiting access and preventing some residents from being able to access this popular path, so it made sense to remove it.
“We will carry out some minor cutting of the side vegetation in this area, and liaise with the Environment Agency regarding the vegetation growing out from the river. This vegetation is currently home to many of the animals who live along this waterway, and so most of the cutting will be done later in the year to prevent disturbance to these species.”
