This week has been a trial by pavement. My bones have been shaken & stirred and not in a good way.
Firstly, I and the Mancunian Lieutenant decided that after a hair appointment in Richmond, we should wheel down to the Crown in Twickenham (great pub with fab garden see previous review). Little did I realise we would dice with death. Not only were the pavements uneven and raised in places but at one point we had to go in the road, on a bend, where buses are frequent and they can’t see you until it’s too late. So I have to ask why does a borough as rich as Richmond not look after its pavements??
Later in the week I ventured out shopping, again in Richmond, and the pavements have recently all been refurbished in the main area of George St – v. smooth & ‘airport-like’. I picked up some trendy Ray-Bans and I really thought I looked the part. We decided to adjourn to All Bar One which has a lift & disabled toilet, which is now really efficient at getting you up the stairs, as long as a member of staff knows how to operate it!
The bar itself has been re-decorated to a high standard with curved seating and individual plus shared tables – the Cosmopolitans went down a treat. But I digress – the point is, my new glasses fell off as we left the smooth pavements to some cobbles and uneven paving slabs just 100 yards from George St. I assume these remain as they have some historical significance but we’re living in the 21st century and even my helper found these difficult to walk over. Does anyone have a view on this – do we really have to live with bad paving even if it’s an historical artefact??? Send us your comments &/or photos.……
Lastly, I and the team went to a dinner for restauranteurs at the Dorchester in Park Lane – a beautiful Art Deco building. Recently refurbished, it was very accessible, although the carpets are rather plush & spongy for stick walkers. All went well and I could enter through the main entrance (unlike the Ritz & its back entrance via the bins – see the article here), there was a ramp to the ballroom but it had a 5cm step to get onto it!! We mentioned it to the attendant staff and they commented that it had been part of the refurbishment ….. really, at The Dorchester??!! Does anyone ever check these things with people with disabilities?
In conclusion I love going out but sometimes I despair at planners’ and architects’ lack of thought. Maybe wheelchairs need better suspension, but that’s another issue. What do you think? Let us know here & send your photos & stories.
Let’s hope next week is not so bumpy!