A CAMPAIGN group is celebrating getting permission to improve access to Concord Beach after a series of accidents on the worn pathway.

Access to the seafront from Maurice Road has been difficult for those in wheelchairs, mobility scooters or for people pushing buggies as only part of the pathway is asphalted.

Over the years, a small ridge has been created where the asphalt meets the unmade path, making it easy for people to trip and fall or stopping some people with mobility issues or impairments from accessing the seafront at all.

Colin Letchford, 69, chairman of the Friends of Concord Beach, said: “When they built the seawall in 1985 they made a few ramps on the seawall so people could access it.

“In 2000 some work was done along the seafront and some of the accesses to Concord Beach were asphalted, but only one third of this pathway ramp was done.

“So two thirds of it are still very course and unpaved.

“As the path has become worn and washed away it has made a bump which has led to a few incidents.

“One person on a mobility scooter tried to ride over it, but it was too steep for them to get up and they ended up tipping over. Others have tripped over it too.

“It is also very difficult for anyone in a wheelchair to get there or for people with buggies to access it, which means some people have stopped using it at all or have a very long journey to the next access point.”

But now the Friends have been given permission by the Environment agency to do something about it and plan to tarmac the whole pathway, to create a smooth and much-improved access.

Mr Letchford, of Maurice Road, said: “Ideally we would hope to put in a proper disabled ramp, but that would cost about £100,000.

“In the meantime, this we can get this into a proper condition.

“We have been raising funds for various things for a while and this shouldn’t be too expensive as most of the labour will be done by volunteers from the friends group.”

He added: “It’s a small change, but one we hope will make a huge difference to a lot of people who want to enjoy the seafront.”

To volunteer with the group visit friends-of-concordbeach.co.uk