Moray Council to drop more kerbs in Forres following request from community councillor Ken Shand

A LOCAL Forces veteran is successfully campaigning for more dropped kerbs around town.

Having backed wheelchair user and Forres Community Council member Ken Shand’s calls for lowered pavement sections for easier wheel access in a number of areas in Forres already, Moray Council has started work at Mannachie.

Ken explained: “If someone is pushing a wheelchair user, lifting the chair up kerbs is hard and coming off them can cause pain in the lower spine.

“Power wheelchair users often have to look for alternative routes, sometimes long ways round or on the road, to find a suitable place to get onto or off the pavement.”

A spokesman for the local authority confirmed it has been working with Mr Shand for years, identifying needs for dropped kerbs.

He said: “Information from residents is invaluable in helping us make our communities more accessible.

“Works to reduce the height of the kerbs at the crossing on Grantown Road were carried out last year. Similar works to lower kerbs around Mannachie Road, Mannachie Brae and Mannachie Avenue commenced on Monday and are expected to take two to three weeks.”

Mr Shand has also requested that the kerb is dropped on the A96 at the roundabout and turn-off for Lidl, where Bear Scotland is responsible for the road.

A spokesperson for BEAR said: “We hope to arrange a meeting in February with Mr Shand to look at ways we can provide the required infrastructure for disabled users of footways in Forres. Our teams will look to progress a scheme at Greshop Roundabout to enhance existing dropped crossing points, creating a safer route for wheelchair users.

“It is anticipated that works will take place late summer this year.”