Good Afternoon,

I am disabled and use a motorised wheelchair to enable me to access the world outside. On several occasions this week a car has been parked on the dropped kerb at the turning of Bulford and Twyford Place, this means I am unable to get on the pavement and continue my jouney.

I have informed the police of this on several occasions. I was told to phone them if the incident occurred again, which is what I did this morning.

I was told by the police call centre to make sure I was safe, and they would find out who the car belonged to and ask them to move it or attend to it themselves.

It was now raining and I was upset so decided to abort my trip and return home, where I received a call saying that I had left the scene, they would not be attending.

I would like to thank all the people that stopped to offer me assistance.

Regards,

Janet Cox

___

Dear sir/ Madam,

I was so excited to read that Spitfire jets were to return to Dunkeswell International Airport this coming May.

It did however remind me of a somewhat fretful flight that I had recently, when one of the propellers on our Boeing 737 fell of on the return journey from Tenerife, causing us to be 2 hours late landing. Fortunately the other one remained attached or we could have been up there all day.

Never been in the RAF myself, but my grandfather, Arthur 'bomber' Hart, did fly in wellingtons during the war. He was cycling down North street on the way to his allotment when his dibber got caught in the spokes. He flew about 50 yards and landed in the doorway of the Toc H. Poor chap was never the same after that!

On another matter highlighted in your columns, (possibly more serious), I read that Somerset Council is planning to shed more than 1000 council staff over the next 3 years.

I might have mis-read this, as my hearing is not what it used to be, but does this mean that they are currently employing 1000 non-essential staff? Do we have any information about the number of executive officers that might be queueing at the revolving door I wonder?

Perhaps they could all get a seat on the slickly named 'Tackling Racial Disproportionality Independent Scrutiny Board (ISB)', a worthy organisation I'm sure, but if truth were told, and I were in Mark Shelbys shoes, I'd be more interested in getting my hands on those Nottingham Knockers!

Graham Hart,

Marlands, Westleigh

---

Dear Editor, 

Following a complaint to Somerset Council that they were in breach of the Equality Act by opening Blenheim Gardens cafe on 1/4/23 without a disabled access, the service Director Strategic Asset Management Oliver Woodhams replied saying that they were not in breach of the Act.

This he explained was because the previous tenant Ms Sue Dean didn't have a disabled access either, this is a lease which expired over 5 years ago. The idea that somebody else not complying with the law absolves Somerset Council from its obligations under the Act is laughable.

Especially when they had a contractual commitment from someone to build such an access before the cafe opened, which commitment was waived by SWT Council. What he also forgot to mention was that Ms Dean's lease was only internal repairing, so she was not responsible for the provision of a disabled access. It was the District Council's responsibility.

So, Somerset Council and its predecessors have been in breach of their obligations under the Equality Act, and guilty of discrimination against the disabled, since 2010 and are still doing their utmost to avoid compliance.

I am sure all the wheelchair users will have a warm cuddly feeling knowing this. Surely the making up and use of such a poorly thought through excuse is in itself an admission of non-compliance. He also failed to comment on a request for a reason why they were building a huge piece of decking in the Council owned part of the Gardens without planning permission, are they above the law or just bending it to avoid public scrutiny (same as the canons on the Quay).

At the moment its just a ramp to nowhere. I have put in an offer to buy this parcel of land as it would be nice to own part of the history and because Somerset Council are clearly planning to dispose of it.

I am sure many others would welcome the same opportunity so why doesn't the Council advertise it for sale and maximise their return for the council tax payers, or have they done a private deal already, again?

Regards

Steve Tyler