A 15-year-old disabled boy from Everton has taken his campaign for accessibility to the heart of Liverpool Council. Jack Ince has been fighting to get his “independence back” as he lobbies the city council to install dropped kerbs between his home on Landsdowne Place and Breckfield Road North.
Jack, who uses an electric wheelchair having been born with cerebral palsy, took it upon himself to contact the local authority last December in a bid to make changes to the route for those who use wheelchairs and scooters like him. The teenager travels between his home to visit the shop less than half a mile away.
Campaign launched after initial refusal
His hopes were dashed however when he was told by the city’s highways department that no changes were planned in the area. Jack has now taken it upon himself to launch a campaign to install dropped kerbs along the route.
Having unsuccessfully asked for the changes last year, Evertonian Jack has set up a formal petition that he hopes to submit to the council. It asks for dropped kerbs to be installed from Mere Lane to Rash’s Convenience Store on Breckfield Road North.
Cllr Portia Fahey, who represents Everton North, formally presented the petition to the Lord Mayor Cllr William Shortall at a meeting of the full local authority on Wednesday. The accessibility of the current pavement means Jack has to go into the road on his journeys to and from the shop.
“I was really upset”
The petition said this places him and others at “significant risk to oncoming traffic and prevents him from moving about his local area with the independence and dignity that other young people take for granted”.
Ahead of his birthday in August, Jack explained the difficulties he faces. He said: “I want to be able to go to the shops on my own and get my independence back.
“It’s really hard for me, I have to go into the road sometimes. I sent a letter to the council but they didn’t reply at first.
“Then they said there were no future works in the area. I was really upset and I was really trying to get this done.
“I have a visual impairment so I can’t see sometimes when I’m moving. I started this campaign last Christmas because it was starting to be an annoyance. We gave the council time.”
Jack’s campaign has been bolstered by the support of users and staff at The Breckfield Centre where he’s been visiting for the past five years.
Petition calls on council to survey route
The petition calls on Liverpool Council’s highways team to survey the route and install the kerbs to ensure wheelchair users can remain on the pavement along their journey. It describes them as a “basic and well-established accessibility feature”.
Jack also had a message for the city council. He said: “Please, please listen to all the wheelchair users in this area. Please support us, please listen to everyone.”
What Liverpool Council said
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: “Improving road safety and accessibility across the city is a key priority, and these considerations are central to our highways improvement programme. Whenever new highway schemes are introduced, or developments are brought forward by third parties, we strongly encourage measures that improve pedestrian access, including the provision of dropped kerbs where appropriate.
“We are currently delivering a range of projects to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle across Liverpool, and this work will continue over the coming months and into next year. We recognise the importance of dropped kerbs in helping people move around their communities independently.
“While requests for new dropped kerbs are considered where funding permits, we do not currently have the capacity to deliver additional installations outside of planned works during this financial year. However, suggestions from residents will be taken into account as future programmes of work are developed.”
