Accessibility audit of local routes

Mend the Gap has commissioned an accessibility expert to identify and audit three short routes, one each in Pangbourne, Goring and Streatley, and Cholsey, and make recommendations to the programme team for improvements that would make these routes accessible to a wider range of people with differing levels of mobility needs. The aspiration is that the programme will then support the implementation of these recommendations where possible, or in cases where the improvements fall beyond Mend the Gap’s budget, will signpost the community to other potential sources of funding.

The routes will be audited on a variety of factors, including path width, obstacles such as stiles or gates, path gradient and surface. They will also be audited against the project’s aspiration that each walk should provide seating and rest stop opportunities, toilet facilities and viewpoints or other landscape interest – what is colloquially known as ‘a loo, a brew and a view’.

A wide range of stakeholders from these local communities will be listened to as part of the audit, to discover what they think it is important to allow more people to access this unique landscape where the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes meet, and two national trails, the Thames Path and Ridgeway, pass through.

The report is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.