An angry town councillor has launched a campaign to improve accessibility in Sandbach town centre for disabled people.

Cllr Ann Nevitt is campaigning for pavements in the town centre to be improved so the blind or those in wheelchairs can navigate the town more easily.

She says there is a high camber on many pavements, there is poor quality paving with broken and raised pavements and intrusive gulleys.

And she says inconsiderate parking and the placing of wheelie bins on pavements can make it difficult for pedestrians.  

But Cheshire East Council has hit back saying it regularly does safety inspections and responds to customer enquiries to keep the network, including pavements, in a safe condition.

Cllr Nevitt, one of the councillors who represents Town Ward, is fighting for improvements to the pavements which she says let the town down.

Cllr Nevitt and one of the campaigners, Debbie Bayley

Cllr Nevitt said: "Councils have a duty to make reasonable adjustments where they can.

"It is appreciated Sandbach is an historic market town and any adjustments have to be cost-effective and preserve the aesthetics of our beautiful town, but improvements need to be made."

Cllr Nevitt's campaign was prompted by Sandbach resident, Debbie Bayley, who had difficulties pushing her late father around the town.

Local residents with mobility issues were accompanied by councillors last month on a tour around the town to see the difficulties first-hand.

A report was then produced and Cllr Nevitt says the feedback from this and the report which went before Sandbach Town Council subject has been very positive.

The 'Accessibility Report Sandbach' recommends a number of solutions including:

·       Hedges trimmed back and weeds removed

·       Inappropriate grids and drain covers changed for more appropriate and slimmer versions which don't present hazards

·       Business and domestic bins relocated to more appropriate spaces

·       Improving levels of pavements

·       Removing visual blocks for safety

·       Improving untidy and hazardous open drains and guttering at street level    

"We have a beautiful town and we need to preserve and look after it," says Cllr Nevitt.

"It feels like we're the poor relation sometimes," she said.

"We want disabled people to be independent and to be able to enjoy our town. Some of the pavements just aren't easy to navigate."

Debbie Bayley, who lives in Elworth Street, and suffers herself following a motorbike accident in her 20s, wants to see improvements.

"Other towns have better pavements and are easier to walk around so why can't Sandbach be the same?"

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "The council's highways service is responsible for repairs and management of 2,700 km of roads and 2,103 km of foot ways, in addition to the maintenance of bridges, street lighting, signage and 600 km of cycle ways.

 "The council regularly undertakes safety inspections and responds to customer enquiries to keep the network, including pavements, in a safe condition.

" All roads and pavements are inspected regularly, in line with the code of practice for highway safety inspections, and any defects found to need action are promptly repaired within agreed time frames.

"Foot ways are identified for potential future surface works, subject to funding and prioritisation, in line with our highways asset management approach.

"This year, we are facing a freeze in the funding we receive from the Department for Transport for highways repairs, which follows a cut of 23 per cent in funding for 2021/22.

 "Sandbach town centre has scheduled safety inspections monthly, with the last 24 June. Our staff takes seriously all comments and concerns around access and safety from disabled people.

 "Obstruction caused by vehicles is a matter for police enforcement. Council action is limited to enforcing specified waiting restrictions, such as parking on double yellow lines."