Disabled problems

THERE are many disabled boaters who encounter problems on the towpaths, with one, the well known Geraldine Prescott of the Cheese Boat writing:

I am disabled and have been so for the past seven years. The only way I can get around is on a disability scooter and like James Cookes constantly come across problems with getting off the towpath.

Would like to visit

There are so many places I would like to visit but CaRT (or British Waterways as was) put steps from the towpath up onto a road and my husband is unable to haul my scooter up the steps. Surely slopes would be better.

[Yet on the other hand the then British Waterways spent thousands of pounds including a ramp at Weston Lock on the Trent & Mersey, (pictured) that is never used, at the same time taking away important lock moorings. It is far easier to alight wheelchairs and the like at the top of the lock that is level with a road into the village. Money that could have provided many more simpler disabled access points.—Editor.]