Disability advisory group

Glen from Central Whangarei

To whom it may concern

Hello Glen McMillan here I am writing to express my concerns on the accessibility at the event below

7th Whangarei Fritter Festival on Saturday 16 March 2019

This is my third fritter festival I use a mobility scooter any walking is painful for me. My mobility scooter is a mobility aid, not a recreational vehicle.

In past years the accessibility at the fritter festival has been acceptable but not good, A spot in front of the stage has always been labeled as accessible and well used by disabled people, in general, accessible tracks to allow mobility scooters and wheelchairs access around toll stadium have been provided and enforced by security.

Fritter festival Saturday 16 March 2019. Whoever is responsible for accessibility has completely dropped the ball. There seemed to be no effort whatsoever to provide any accessible accessways as required

#NZS 4221-2001 4.5.3 clear route A accessible access route shall be designated a clear route and maintained with the minimum width of 1200mm, at all times.

The disabled area in front of the stage was not provided no signage had been put up, the accessible tracks to allow mobility scooters and wheelchairs access around toll stadium were not provided, moving anywhere was near impossible, I did not see any mobility accessible porta-loos.

There was plenty of shade provided for the corporate areas, but none whatsoever in the public areas. So I was without water because I was trapped most of the time could not get to the loos again because I became trapped When I could move if I stopped people would sit in front and behind. I did manage to move at times but only down in front of the grandstand the other side was completely blocked, I was trying to get out of the sun I became very badly overheated.

The solution. At one of the Christmas events at toll either last year or the year before Santa and his elves where arriving by sedway. For Santa and the elves a clear route meeting standard #NZS 4221-2001 4.5.3 A accessible access route shall be designated a clear route and maintained with the minimum width of 1200mm, at all times was provided

Now the solution is simple for any public event held at toll stadium. If clear accessway can be provided and enforced for Santa and his elves, then I would ask that the disabled community be offered safe access at least to the standard Santa received. Sorry to say I suspect Santa is not real disabled people are and deserve to be treated as equals.

Just think if Santa has wheels as in a sedway he was really well catered for with a clearly marked accessible route security kept this clear they had to so Santa could get around. Please for Northlands disabled use this formula for all events.

One more thing and this is a big deal, I have attended 3 fritter festivals all on my mobility scooter. I purchased my ticket from ticketek, which by the way is wheelchair accessible but not mobility scooter accessible

Anyway, I arrived at the toll stadium gate looking forward to fritter I moved between the barriers holding my ticket a large security man stood in front of me and said mobility scooters were not allowed, I debated this after the security man made a phone call I was allowed in. Question were any timid mobility scooter users turned away?.

Solution better training for the security

I have been asked by our DPA Northland health and safety person to ask

1) Training security and staff can be offered by DPA Northland

2) Emergency access if a medic event happens? …..

3) Can we have a copy of the emergency action plan?

Glen McMillan

Chairman DPA Northland