Harlow Area Access Group

The Harlow Area Access Group actively promotes the adoption of inclusive design & management to create environments which are accessible & usable by everyone

The Harlow Area Access Group works with:

Town Planners to create a community that allows everyone to live and participate as they choose.
Building Control Surveyors, Architects, Builders & Developers to ensure that the construction industry provides buildings which are fully accessible to everyone.
Highways engineers in the creation of street environments that are safe and easily managed by everyone.
Public transport operators to develop easily accessible travel facilities for everyone.
Police & Traffic Wardens to reduce the abuse of ‘Blue Badge’ parking - (DPPB).
Leisure and Arts services in order to provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for everyone.

Ever had this happen to you?

If so - don't be shut up about being shut out!

In Harlow there is an Access Group that is active in promoting the interests of disabled people.

What Do Access Groups Do?

The first objective is to improve the Built Environment so that everyone can gain access to public buildings, use public transport, cross the road safely, hear public address announcements…..

How Do Access Groups Work?

By working closely with the Local Authority to vet all Planning applications for public buildings such as banks and restaurants, to ensure that they meet, at least, the minimum required standards for access and use.

We take-up local issues which need an informed and representative consumer view: like deciding about what is ‘reasonable’ in the building of accessible environments and with such details as the location of dropped kerbs…. We act to ensure that hard won access regulations are fully adhered to and that service provision is inclusive of everyone.

What sort of People Are they?

Most Access Group members have personal experience of being disabled by the built environment and know only too well how difficult everyday life is made by poor access to public buildings & facilities. They make a constructive contribution towards ensuring that the local community is more accessible to everyone.

Sounds Very Technical?

Not at all, there is nothing technical about knowing how frustrating are badly designed public transport facilities, buildings or street environments!

…anyway, new members are helped to get to know the ropes by those with more experience – but most of all it just needs common sense, a touch of realism and a little enthusiasm to make it worthwhile.

How Much Commitment?

Access Groups have an active working role in which everyone pulls their weight to get things done. There are occasional brief meetings and perhaps an hour-a-week involved with practical work. With a wide range of issues to deal with there are opportunities for everyone to take an active interest.

Question: Will things improve by leaving it to the ‘good will’ of others…?

Answer…. course not!

We need you to stop this..

Narrow Access for Wheelchairs

Make your voice heard by joining the Harlow Area Access Group

So join today and make it happen!