Calls For Council To Regulate Outdoor Dining Areas Amid Accessibility Concerns

Picture © Steve Buissinne via Pixabay

Clare County Council is being called on to address concerns what’s been described as dangerous conditions facing wheelchair users and the visually impaired due to ill-placed outdoor dining furniture.

It comes as the National Public Health Emergency Team and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee are meeting today to discuss the resumption of indoor dining.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

If the government decide to delay the July 5th date for the resumption of indoor dining, this means that outdoor service will remain the sole hospitality outlet available to the public for another number of weeks.

This potential delay only adds to the concerns being raised by disability activists in Clare that the mismanagement of outdoor dining facilities in some places is creating dangerous conditions for wheelchair users or those with visual impairments.

Clare Leader Forum Advocacy and Communications Officer, Anne Marie Flanagan is calling on the local authority to engage with the relevant groups to ensure that accessibility is a key priority.

She’s described some of the difficulties currently facing those with disabilities as “undignifying”.

However, Clare’s Green Party representative believes that responsibility falls on the business owner to properly manage their outdoor dining areas.

Green Party Senator Róisín Garvey believes that the local authority can’t be solely held to account as licenses granted by the council are given under the condition that pathways aren’t blocked to pedestrians or those with disabilities.

The Inagh Senator says that further thought needs to be given to those with additional needs as outdoor spaces are the future.

Clare FM have contacted Clare County Council for statement in relation to reports of the mismanagement of outdoor dining facilities in public spaces throughout the county and are awaiting a response.