SUTHERLAND ACCESS PANEL Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 29th January 2002 at 10:30 am in the Community Room, Lawson Memorial Hospital, Golspie. PRESENT: Sheila Board Joyce Buchanan Denise Carroll Christian Goskirk Carl Lemkes Gerry Lemkes Martin MacLeod Shirley McHardy John Sutherland In the absence of Monica Mouat, Denise Carroll agreed to Chair the meeting. 1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Maggie Coupland, Cllr Rita Finlayson, Ann Keatinge, Nick Lindsay, Ann Lynch, Monica Mouat, Sandra Peterkin and Jamie Stone MSP. 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting held on 27th November 2001 were approved. 3. MATTERS ARISING 3.1 Camelot Foundation It was reported that the Sutherland Access Panel had been successful in its application to the Camelot Foundation. A total of £4,730 has been awarded to cover the costs of travel and to undertake and Access Audit of Sutherland. 3.2 Balance in Bank The Access Panel has at present £748.66 in its Bank Account. (The Camelot funding has not been credited to the Panel Account yet.) 3.3 Access Issues * Golspie Health Centre - Shirley has been in contact with Dr Ross who has raised the issue with the Primary Care Trust. Shirley is to follow up. * Dornoch Sheriff Court - Shirley has been in contact with Len MacLaughlin to arrange a suitable date to meet with staff at the Court. * Golspie Golf Club - has been added to the Golspie list. * Cambusavie Unit - Shirley to follow up. Joyce Buchanan indicated that the access issue has been noted by Highland Health Council and will be included in its report on the Unit. * Golspie Post Office - Christian and Shirley met with Mr Calder of BEAR (Scotland) to discuss the issue. A proposal to alter the layout of the parking bay was agreed subject to BEAR (Scotland) receiving funding from Scot. Exec. Shirley has written to BEAR and to the Scot. Exec confirming the meeting and the subsequent agreement, as put forward by Mr Calder. Work will begin after the winter maintenance programme is complete, subject to funding. 3.4 Planning Applications * Evlix Filling Station - Copies of the plans have still not been made available to the Panel. * Chinese Takeaway (Brora) - Planning Permission was refused. * Dornoch Castle Hotel - no further contact has been made. * Helmsdale Community Centre - Shirley wrote to the architect re the disabled toilet facilities. A positive response has been received. 3.5 Post 16 Additional information was requested but has not yet been received. 3.6 Disability Rights Commission The Disability Rights Commission is considering holding a surgery in Sutherland during the spring of 2002. This is in response to comments from the Panel that the Roadshow held in the autumn of 2001 in Nairn was not accessible for Panel Members from Sutherland. 4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS * Strathnaver Public Hall - The comments of the Panel were sent to the Architect with regards door widths and ramp gradients. More detailed plans were also requested. * N & W Sutherland Advice & Information Service - Comments were made by the Panel to the Architect - as yet no response. * Haladale Public Hall - Plans were on display at the meeting. This is an extension to an existing building. John Sutherland stated that more detailed information has been requested on door widths and ramps. When detailed plans are available the panel will receive a copy. * Dornoch Tourist Information Centre - Plans were shown at the meeting. The proposal is to separate the building, creating a flat upstairs with a separate entrance. The ground floor would consist of the Tourist Information and a small tearoom. It was proposed that the existing disabled toilet be removed in favour of two ambient toilets. It was the view of the Access Panel that the existing disabled toilet should be left in place. The comments of the Panel are to be sent to the Architect. 5. ACCESS ISSUES * Raigmore Hospital - Public Toilet Facilities - It was noted that the toilets for disabled people at Raigmore Hospital are inadequate. They contain no aids or adaptions and are not a self-contained unit, making them unsuitable for a carer of the opposite sex. They are extremely difficult to get into, as there are two doors to go through, one at an angle to the other, making turning a wheel chair very difficult. * Radar Keys - It was noted that radar key toilets have no way of indicating that they are occupied. 6. AOCB 6.1 Access Audit It was noted that the Panel has effectively until the end of November 2002 to complete and publish its Access Guide. Shirley made available copies of Access Guides from Moray and Nairn for information. It was agreed to hold a meeting on 19th February 2002 looking solely at the Access Guide for Sutherland. Prior to that a draft audit checklist will be sent to Panel members for comment. 6.2 Highland Access Panel A meeting of the Highland Access Panels is to take place on Tuesday 5th March 2002 at 12:30 pm at the Highland Council Headquarters, Glen Urquhart Road, Inverness. 6.3 VG-ES Membership The Access Panel has become a member of VG-ES (Cost £5 per annum) 7. DONM The next meeting of the Access Panel will take place on Tuesday 12th March 2002 at 11:00am in Rosehall Village Hall.