Forres Community Councillor and wheelchair user Ken Shand calls for path along Sanquhar flood bund
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NEARLY three years after making his initial request, a wheelchair user appears to be no closer to getting a universally accessible path at a local beauty spot.
In March 2017, Forres Community Council health, veterans and disability representative, Ken Shand, called for a path to be built along the flood bind between Sanquhar Road and Sanquhar Pond to make it easier for people with disabilities to appreciate the view.
He said: “It’s been a dream of mine and other wheelchair users, elderly couples who struggle up the bank, couples with pushchairs and others who have no access.”
He added: “Sustain Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) think a new path is a great idea.”
A spokesman for SEPA confirmed it recognises the benefits people get from being able to access good-quality natural environments.
He said: “We are actively working with local authorities to restore rivers and improve access for the health and wellbeing benefits this provides to communities, and are happy to talk to Moray Council about opportunities in this area.”
Moray councillor Aaron McLean (Forres, SNP) confirmed the local authority’s lands and parks department is unaware of any plans for the embankment.
He said: “The hill is a flood bund, so a path would have to be careful not to compromise the stability of the bank.
“The pond area has been passed over to the Sanquhar working group for maintenance, and to draw funding that would otherwise be unavailable to the local authority, such as from wind farm funds.
“However, I believe Moray Council would support any bid as long as it didn’t compromise the integrity of the bund.”
Meanwhile, Brian McDonald, of the Sanquhar Dam Renovation Group, said it would not be in a position to carry out work of this nature without the express permission of Moray Council, nor would its volunteers have the knowledge, expertise or equipment to tackle such a project.
He said: “Creating safe access and egress to the top of the embankment requires structural investigation, technical drawings, planning permission and collaborations with other departments within the council.
“When we sought to install five interpretation boards along the pathways round the pond, it took more than two years with the support of internal council departments.”
Mr McDonald also pointed out that construction of the wheelchair access next to the weir indicated how much work would be needed to create access.
He added: “Previous discussions with the flood-alleviation team confirmed that they would be very concerned about any disturbance to the infrastructure of the embankment, especially since so little is known about its construction.
“A recent conversation with another wheelchair user, who regularly takes photos from the top of the embankment, confirmed that he was able to access the top without too much difficulty in a chair, not adapted for rough terrain. Nevertheless, it is appreciated that, the prospect of taking a wheelchair up that slope could be a deterrent to some.”
Mr Shand still hopes his request will be followed up.
He said: “A path could be made without major disruption to the bank.
“I would meet any councillor there to put my suggestion over.
“If Moray Council agrees with the idea, then I would find a group that could apply for funding from organisations like the Berry Burn Community Fund for the Sanquhar volunteers to use.”
