Scunthorpe mother calls for better disabled play access

A report by Scope found that nearly half of all playgrounds were inaccessible to children with disabilities

A Scunthorpe mother has said it is "heart-breaking" that her disabled daughter is unable to use play parks like other children.

Lorna Fillingham said many playgrounds did not have equipment suitable for her 14-year-old daughter Emily-May.

A recent report by charity Scope found that only one in 10 parks nationally was fully accessible.

Ms Fillingham said she just wanted her daughter "to have the same play opportunities as any other child".

"There are inclusive play area guidelines out there that local councils can follow in order to make sure that everybody is included when they are developing play parks, and I think that's what absolutely needs to be done," she said.

"I could go to a brand new play park tomorrow and there'd be absolutely nothing in it for my child to play on.

"It's about remembering that there are disabled children in the community."

Lorna Fillingham said many playgrounds did not have equipment that her 14-year-old daughter Emily-May could use

The Scope research found that 47% of playgrounds were inaccessible to children with disabilities.

More than 1,000 parks were surveyed, and the report found that "most had little or no accessible equipment, with some even having features that could be unsafe for disabled children, like no fencing around the playground or uneven floor surfaces".

Some had gates that were too small to allow wheelchair access, and play equipment with steps.

The charity has launched an online playground accessibility map to allow parents to plan their days out.

North Lincolnshire Council said it was committed to ensuring "parks and green spaces are accessible and can be enjoyed by as many residents as possible".

A spokesperson said: "To support this driving ambition, the council has successfully secured more than £320,000 in additional funding to make spaces even more inclusive.

"This has enabled the council to complete a raft of projects, with more under way, including the area's first wheelchair-friendly allotment and horticultural site at Somervell Park in Scunthorpe, which will launch later this month.

"New park developments are not adopted if they do not incorporate disabled-accessible features, and the council has worked closely with Lorna to ensure they are inclusive, including adding a wheelchair-accessible roundabout and a changing-places facility at Normanby Hall Country Park."