Cathedral given £500k wheelchair access boost

At present, wheelchair users have to go around the outside of the cathedral in all weathers to access facilities

A cathedral has been awarded nearly £500,000 to help improve accessibility.

The grant will enable Bristol Cathedral to go ahead with planned works to install a lift and level out flooring.

At present, wheelchair users have to go around the outside of the cathedral in all weathers to access facilities.

"There's more than that needed but it gives a core amount and hopefully we can build on that with more fundraising to make the project a reality," said the Reverend Canon Neil Patterson.

"The cloister of the cathedral, where the Chapter House, the toilets and the café are, are about eight steps down from the level of the nave.

"People with mobility issues have to go a long way outside, through the car park, which is difficult," he said.

"It can be wet and not very dignified."

Old photographs

The £475,000 grant, from the Julia Rausing Trust, will kick-start the cathedral's Access for All project, with the building of a new lift.

The cloister floor will also be raised to its original level in the Victorian era, shown in old photographs.

"In some ways, in that section, we're going back to what we once had before but the lift itself has got to be fitted into quite a little corner so that's still a complicated thing to work out exactly how that's going to be done," added Mr Patterson.

Mr Patterson said the steps down to the cloister will be levelled to improve access for wheelchair users

"We have made some progress to improve accessibility in the cathedral this year but there is still a long way to go to make the building accessible for everyone," said the Very Reverend Dr Mandy Ford.

"We are so grateful for this generous grant to allow us to build on this important work," she added.

The grant will also cover improvements to lighting and electrics as well as the installation of new fit-for-purpose ramps.

The Access for All project is expected to cost £750,000 in total, with further funding being sought from other trusts and foundations.