The Access Group are often asked what our aims are and what do we hope to achieve. Our reply is always the same. “We are working to make Bedfordshire as accessible for all residents and visitors as is practicably possible”.
The Access Group has worked with many agencies over the past four years and 99% have been pleased with our contribution in assisting them to arrive at a reasonable way forward regarding an access issue. We have for the past 2 years, worked with English Heritage in their quest to ensure Wrest Park Mansion and Gardens meets with compliances regarding the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Part 3 (the provision of goods and facilities (services). Mr Alex Sydney, Head of Projects & Performance, English Heritage, was unable to attend the recent AGM, instead be sent this report:-
Wrest Park Revitalisation Project
Mid Beds Access Group working in close partnership with English Heritage
I’d like to give my apologies for not being able to attend your meeting in person tonight (due to other work commitments).
For those of you who are not familiar with Wrest Park, the property is a magical and exceptionally interesting landscape of huge importance. Laid out over 150 years and inspired by the great gardens of Versailles in France, its different phases of development are clearly visible and provide a fascinating history of popular landscape garden design.
English Heritage has been awarded a Development Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to plan in detail the revitalisation of Wrest Park. The project, which will be delivered in 2011 and 2012, will restore and improve access to Wrest Park’s Gardens. English Heritage has already worked closely with Mid (now Central) Beds Access Group to ensure that the proposals which have been developed to date are as accessible as possible, and HLF have already highlighted that the accessible elements of the proposed designs and our ongoing partnership with your group was one of the strengths of English Heritage’s Round 1 application. In my career, I have worked with a number of access groups, and I can honestly say that the MBAG is probably the most proactive, pragmatic and constructive group I have come across.
As a result, I’m pleased to say that our close partnership with MBAG will be continuing for the life of the project and that your advice will closely influence the detailed design work taking place over the coming months – especially in terms of the landscape design.
Once this planning work has been completed, English Heritage will be submitting a Round 2 application to HLF which we hope will secure the site over £1.25million of additional funding to improve facilities at Wrest Park as part of our £3.9million project
In addition, it is worth noting that English Heritage has also worked closely with MBAG to identify a viable solution for the provision of disabled car parking and disabled access into the mansion. These sorts of solutions are never easy to arrive at in a Grade 1 listed building, but the support and advice we have received from MBAG has been crucial to convincing the historic building inspectors that our proposals were the most realistic and viable option.
I look forward to continuing English Heritage’s close working partnership with the group in its new, Central Beds incarnation.
Alex Sydney
Head of Projects & Performance, English Heritage.
16.03.09
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A big Thank You to the many people who contacted the Access Group as a result of the “letter” in the recent edition of BOS.
We hope the answers to the many questions have in some way helped in ensuring a better understanding of the DDA and the responsibilities of Service Providers.
We take this opportunity to explain that the Access Group is not as some thought, a Charity. We are a Community Group there are important distinctions to bear in mind. One is the difference between an unincorporated organisation and an incorporated one (or 'corporate body'). In the eyes of the law an unincorporated organisation is a collection of individuals working together, we are an “unincorporated organisation”. However, the group does have a legal status, as it has a 'governing document' and its own bank account.
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The Mid-Bedfordshire Access Group was formed in March 2005 and the members, who come from all walks
of life (no pun intended). are either disabled themselves, have family members that are disabled or they work
with the disabled. The present membership is around 20 this includes co-opted members who work for
agencies that include councils and housing associations.
The Access Group changed its name to Central Beds Access Group at the 2009 AGM
The Group meets every two months on a Wednesday evening between 6.30 pm & 8.30 pm the meetings are
held in a room at the Central Bedfordshire Council Offices at Chicksands Shefford which is made available free of charge.
The Group is totaly independent and although we work with local authorities we are self governing.
We raise our own funds.This is by way of applying for grants from Community Liason Forums and other organisations
and of late by carring out Access Audits in return for a small donation.
We work very closely with the Central Bedfordshire Council's Access Officer Mr Martin Usher, who ensures that we keep to
the straight and narrow, at times he definitely has his work cut out.
The Group is always looking for like minded people to strengthen it and if you wish to become involved or
have something to offer then please get in touch you will be made welcome
OBJECTIVES
The Access Groups Objectives shall be to promote accessibility for the benefit of disabled people and all members of the community of Central Bedfordshire.
a) The built environment
b) Facilities, goods and services.
c) The countryside
d) Information
e) Transport
In carrying out its objectives the Access Group shall promote equality of opportunity for all sections of the community.
The Access Group shall:
-Provide a focus for all matters relating to accessibility and to promote local understanding of these matters.
-Provide advice, based on the experience, research and knowledge of members of the Access Group to statutory authorities, commercial undertakings and private individuals where appropriate.
-Maintain contact with local and national organisations that have an interest in access issues. Exchange information where appropriate with such groups in furtherance of the objectives of the Access Group.
-Establish or join with others to organise or support projects and campaigns to promote access.
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Access Audits
The Access Group has recently met with representatives of the Beds County Council and Shuttleworth Management.
The Swiss Garden which forms an integral part of the designed landscape in Old Warden Park and created by the third Lord Ongley between 1820 and 1835 is now closer to becoming a fully accessible venue.
Swiss Gardens Shuttleworth,Old Warden
The Chapel The Garden
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2007
Manor Land at Flitwick
The Kissing gate access to the parkland
2010
How the scene has changed, go to Photo Gallery
View of a small section of the 55 acres of park
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2007/2008
The Access Group has over the past 18 months carried out access audits on both of the above.
They are outside venues and both have their own set of access issues which will need to be addressed.
We hope that by working with the Bedfordshire County Council and Flitwick Town Council these two
excellent rural venues will be accessible for all residents and visitors to the district in the near future.
Beds County Council has engaged us in an audit of Flitwick Wood which we all hope will be made
"accessible for all" without spoiling the natural beauty of this ancient woodland.
We have also carried out an access audit on the new MBDC offices at Chicksands (see photo gallery?) and from the new to
the old we are in talks with English Heritage regarding Wrest Park which is a Grade 1 listed building
dating back to the 1700's. The guidence of the the MBDC Access Officer has been invaluable in both
of these projects.
We are also working with Greensand Trust on improving access for all in Ampthill Park.
The Ampthill Town Council are fully behind the partnership as is the MBDC Access Officer.
This historic park dates back hundreds of years to the reign of King Henry V111 when he used it as a
hunting venue. For further information click on Library on the Menu bar
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