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Access All Areas has an advert on www.stickyboard.co.uk. It is under communities and has our basic information at this time. It advertises us to Bromley users of this website. Go see if you can find us on there and let us know.
You can update the site by including events that we are holding, meetings etc.
Campaigns Meeting 26.01.2012 at St Cecilia’s.
Today’s meeting held at St Cecilia’s involved Steve Lee (Local Campaigns Co-ordinator London/Kent) from Leonard Cheshire Disability starting the meeting with some basic Politics Training. The group decided that they would benifit with a basic overview of how the government works in regards to the structure of who influences who and the different roles of people.
He explained our Local Council starting with the Executive working down through the lines of influence and communication.
This will help the group to continue with their current campaign which is to slow the traffic down on Sundridge Avenue in Bromley.
So far the group have written to our 3 local councillors. Cllr Colin Smith did reply telling us of all the things the Council are considering to put in place to help slow traffic down. This was in July 2011. Chairperson John Kennedy wrote again in September 2011 asking for news on any further developments or decisions made. The group has heard nothing further since.
On the 20th October 11 the group had a petition day where members got people to sign our petition by canvassing on Sundridge Avenue, we collected a lot of signatures from students from the local schools and we knocked on local residents doors though due to the time of day there were few people available to sign.
Bullers Wood School were contacted to highlight our campaign with them for support.
The group are now in the process of deciding what the next steps should be. This will include contacting other people who may want to support us in our campaign.
The Queens Head In Chislehurst.
I recently went for a pub lunch at The Queens Head in Chislehurst. I found the pub very accessible. They have a ramp to access the building from the back. The staff were more than helpful by arranging the furniture so there was comfortable space for two wheelchairs and two escorts. Though I haven’t seen the facilities I am informed that there is a Disabled toilet available on the ground floor. The overall experiece was pleasant. The food was very good and the pint I had was great. I would reccommend this pub strongly and not just for Disabled people but everyone.
John Kennedy
Chairperson of Access All Areas
For more information about The Queens Head please click on the link below:
Good Luck Elle from Access All Areas
We would like to say a little word as Elle Bullimore will be starting a new job very shortly. Elle will continue to support Access All Area’s but the group would like to wish her all the best in her new role. So even though this is not a goodbye we would like to say a huge thank you for all your guidence and encouragement that has helped shape and motivate the group to get us where we are today.
Stay In Touch Elle!!!!!!!
Love A.A.A
Susan Willats
Sundridge Avenue traffic Campaign
Over the past year or so the residents, staff & volunteers at St. Cecilia’s home at 32 Sundridge Avenue , Bromley have become concerned about road safety immediately outside their home. This is the junction of Sundridge Avenue and Hillbrow, BR1. Anthony Earle a volunteer at St. Cecilia’s has written to Bromley Council detailing our concerns but with no success to date.
The problem is that some motor vehicles will drive too fast when approaching the junction. On the approach from Bromley to this junction a driver is aware of fast approaching vehicles from both directions when stopping to turn right into Hillbrow to visit St. Cecilia’s. This problem is far worse when the large St. Cecilia’s residents vehicle is turning into the home from that direction. Being a large, long vehicle it is somewhat vunerable when staionary and awaiting to turn right. Additionally there is a school very close to this area and the pupils use the bus stops on both sides of the road. It has become obvious that this road is used a great deal and many vehicles seem to be driving in excess of the speed limit on that road which is 30 mph
We the residents, staff, volunteers family and friends at St. Cecilia’s are asking Bromley Council and / or the Police to visit the area to monitor the vehicle speed and flow in Sundridge Avenue with a view to constructing traffic calming. There is evidence of an accident in that area only last year as a result of speeding and it is an area where another accident far more serious is waiting to happen.
On Thursday 20th October members of the Access All Areas campaign team were present in Sundridge Avenue to collect signatures for the petition to request that the Council put measures in place to reduce the speed of vehicles travelling on that road. Immediately outside of St. Cecilia’s are situated bus stops that are used by the pupils of Bullers Wood school and many of those pupils were happy to sign the petition and give their thoughts and comments on the traffic situation to the campaign team. It is hoped that a further exercise will be carried out to collect more signatures. The campaign team have written to the Council regarding this issue and are waiting for a response to their last letter of September 2011.
The Queen Heads Pub in Chislehurst. By John Kennedy.
On the 1st of October, I and two of my friends went to the Queens Head Pub for a few drinks and some socialising. When we got there the staff immediately came over to ask if we would like a table. They rearranged the area we wanted to sit in to make it more accessible for me and my friends as I am in a wheelchair. The staff were very aware and in my opinion were excellent and I can reccommend anyone in a wheelchair to visit there. They helped make my night very enjoyable along with the couple couple of pints I had 
.
Concerts in Church House Gardens, Bromley
Church House gardens is situated behind the central library and Churchill Theatre in the heart of Bromley. The park has a history of staging concerts in the park. Many years ago there was a bandstand situated in the lake in Church House gardens. More recently there has bee a stage area constructed immediately in front of the lake and the ‘amphitheatre’ type steps. This summer there were several concerts held on this new stage. It is hoped that more concerts, perhaps on a weekly basis in the summer months will be held. My concern is the access for disabled persons, especially wheelchairs, when visiting the park. At one of the concerts this year, A Midsummers Night Dream, which was a joint production by the Churchill and the local Council the facilities for the disabled were inadequate. Firstly the diasabled entrance to the stage area was via a steep slope from Library gardens near to the theatre. This slope is indeed steep and not suitable for all types of wheelchairs. There is a gate near to the Churchill theatre stage door [ Tetty Way] which is locked and therefore not a normal entrance / exit to and from the park. This gate would be more suitable for wheelchair users as the route to the concert area is much more flat. It is my understanding that we may be able to use this gate for future concerts. Another area of concern is the lack of places that wheelchairs can be situated once inside the park to see performances. Because the concert viewing area is steps it will be imposible for wheelchair users to be anywhere else but immediately in front of the stage – not an ideal situation. I am a committee member of the Friends of Bromley Town Parks and Gardens and we will be involved in talks with the Town Centre Area manager concerning future concerts. I hope to be invited to meetings regarding access at future concerts in Church House gardens.
Barry Wooding – Oct 2010
Steve Hyde – Bromley Churchill Theatre experience
Atleast 4 wheelchair users paid a visit to our local theatre in Bromley.
The staff were very good, very polite and we even got some ice cream and i was very happy that the staff left us alone once we were given our seating arrangments.
They were very understanding, we explained where could we be seated? to a senior member of staff who explained the ‘disabled row’ and asked if we could place our legs over the row infront. I replied what happens if someone is sitting there? He controversialy said yes place legs there. He was not very helpful, curtious or understanding. If it was a woman she would definatley say no. It was appauling how we were treated.
I enjoyed the musical, however… the seating arrangments were not up to standards. With their solution being our legs dangling over the chairs infront. I expected to be in a row of seating however we were placed behind a row of seating hence why my legs were hanging over the seat infront of me. All of us who experienced this trip found we all had the same problem. My wheelchair had to be lifted around to look at the stage, it would be beter if we could have beter access and more leg room. If it is possible to move a row so leg room is accessible this would be very aprechiated.
I would like to see a facility for people in wheelchairs to be given access to a row so we can sit comfortably, and not be bribed with ice cream
Prezzo Restaurant in Beckenham by Ranjana Chauhan
I would like to congratulate the Prezzo in Beckenham on their stylish and very accesible restaurant. I have visited several times and have found the staff to be very friendly and helpful and all areas of the restuarant have been designed for good wheelchair access. The restaurant has good accessible disabled toilet facilities.
The Ikea Experience By Susan Willats.
Last week I was brave enough to visit Ikea in Croydon. I found the entrance really easy to use. There is a lift near the entrance and I had no problems accessing the buttons. The aisles were very wide and I was able to move my wheelchair around freely. I was able to get near the merchandise that I wanted to see. I used the cafe and the staff were helpful and friendly. I had no problems paying at the tills. I would be very much interested in the experiences of other people when shopping at Ikea.
