Dismay over mobility scheme
SUSPENDING a town centre’s shop mobility scheme has stopped people with mobility issues maintaining their independence, critics claim.
The shop mobility scheme based out of the Brackla One car park and serving Bridgend town centre, was suspended by Bridgend County Council last year after structural issues were deemed to make the car park unsafe to use.
The scheme offered day hire for mobility scooters for £3 (alongside a £5 membership fee), but the cheapest comparable local private rental services charge £17.50 a day – a rate many can’t afford.
Mansel Abraham, 88, of Bridgend, struggles to walk after operations on his right leg and relies on a walking stick.
He used the the shop mobility scheme’s electric scooters for more than a decade, but since its suspension, he has had to rely on his son for help.
He says it’s not only a worry for himself but for those with severe mobility problems in the area who cannot afford private rental mobility scooters.
He added: “I’ve been using the shop mobility scheme since 2009 when I had an unsuccessful operation on my right ankle.
“Since then, in 2019, I had my knee done on the same leg and now I’m having X-rays on my hip. I’m finding it difficult to walk and I have to use a walking stick even in the house.”
The shop mobility service previously reopened towards the end of 2020, when it received a £20,000 grant from the Welsh Government.
Bridgend council bought a fleet of mobility scooters with the grant, which was given after the council decided to maintain the service after a public consultation.
It previously reported that the service is normally used about 4,000 times a year by people hiring scooters and wheelchairs.
Mr Abraham used to use a rented scooter from the service to get to town, which cost him “a reasonable” £3 a day. But now the £17.50 cost of a private rental isn’t affordable, he says, especially given the cost-of-living crisis.
He says he therefore can’t visit the town, and it is now difficult to attend medical appointments and make social arrangements.
Instead, he relies on his son and his partner to attend appointments or go on shopping trips.
He added: “But when I have the shop mobility scooters I can do it myself, which gives me independence.”
Mr Abraham said he isn’t able to take his car into the town centre as there is an order in force prohibiting vehicles from entering the town’s pedestrianised zone between 10am and 6pm.
Mr Abraham said he previously contacted the council to see when the scheme would be available but claims he was told there is no current plan in place to rehouse the scheme.
He added: “The council bought these new electric scooters and they are now lying idle somewhere.”
A Bridgend council spokesperson said: “The shop mobility service which was previously based at the Brackla One multi-storey was temporarily suspended following the detection of structural issues which ultimately rendered the car park unsafe to use.
“While the council is currently considering a range of options for the future of the service, we also maintain a number of dedicated parking bays located around the perimeter of the town centre for use by blue badge holders.
“Blue badge holders can currently park for free at any council-owned car park, and we are also aware that private operators are offering alternative commercial mobility scooter hire facilities in the meantime.”