Great Yarmouth Borough Council has announced that beach wheelchairs are now available to book for free at two locations.
The special wheelchairs have large pneumatic wheels which allow them to slide over the sand giving people with limited mobility easy access to the beach without fear of damaging wheelchair wheels or getting stuck in the sand.
Users must be able to transfer themselves from their usual wheelchair on to the beach wheelchair because there is no hoist available. People are required to push the wheelchairs because it is difficult for users to manoeuvre the wheels in the usual way.
The chairs are supplied with a chest strap but do not have a head support. In order to fit comfortably in the chairs, the maximum weight of users is 114kg and the minimum height is 92cm.
One wheelchair is available at Gorleston-on-Sea all year round and can be found in the shelter close to the ramp, opposite the strip of shops and eateries.
Bookings can be made up to four weeks ahead via https://clubspark.net/GorlestonBeachWheelchairHub/
The wheelchair is free to hire with one booking per day. Please book the 8am slot on the booking system, however you can collect and return the wheelchair anytime between 8am and 8pm.
On the day of hire, a code will be emailed to the booker to access the wheelchair store. Users will be able to store their usual wheelchairs while using the beach wheelchair.
The other beach wheelchair is located in Great Yarmouth and can be collected and returned to SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth on Marine Parade between 10am and 4pm from Easter to October. Booking is essential by contacting Ruth Cockrill via marketing@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
A new store is being commissioned by Great Yarmouth Borough Council for the Great Yarmouth wheelchair to enable year-round booking.
Funding for the wheelchair kiosks is provided by the EXPERIENCE project at Interreg Europe – an inter-regional co-operation programme, co-funded by the European Union. The European Union strives to reduce disparities in the levels of development, growth and quality of life across Europe’s regions.
Image above courtesy of Nick Reed Photography
