Disabled campaigner warns of West Blackhall Street danger

Johanna Stewart, who was part of the former Inverclyde Council on Disability, demonstrated the barriers she faces every time she tries to use town centre.

She has raised the alarm again over fears that disabled people are being driven out by the £3million pound revamp that is ongoing.

The Tele reported recently that another woman using a mobility scooter fell out trying to navigate other parts of Greenock town centre.

READ MORE: A disabled Greenock woman says town centre dangerous no-go zone

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan is now stepping up calls to make the town centre safer for all those with mobility issues and disabilities.

Johanna Stewart West Blackhall Street (Image: George)

He is bringing Inverclyde Council round the table with others involved including Amey and retailers to try to cut out the dangers.

Johanna, aged 49, who stays in Greenock, said: "Honestly it is just downright dangerous. There are just obstacles every where.

"The other day I was trying to get to the Cafe Mor to meet a friend and I had to give up on West Blackhall Street.

"That is a lot of shops that are missing out. I ended up going round the other way.

"But there are dropped kerbs one one side of the road and not the other. Uneven ramps and pavements. I am scared to use them. It is difficult to get around as it is.

"But even going along Dalrymple Street is just as bad.

"It has definitely got a lot worse recently. The problem is decisions are made with no input from people like myself, who use the town centre.

"The work at West Blackhall Street has made it a no go area. It is so frustrating because we have put a lot of work in over the years to try to make the town centre accessible."

Johanna, who has Spina Bifida, helped run Inverclyde Council on Disability for many years as well volunteering at Shopmobility, which provides scooters for people to get around independently.

Johanna Stewart West Blackhall Street (Image: George)

She also runs the local Arthritis UK group and also volunteers in a local charity shop.

Johanna is regularly in the town centre but is increasingly finding it an obstacle course.

She added: "We are not spending money in the town centre so retailers are losing out. "

We recently spoke with another woman Georgia Laurie who highlighted her difficulties in Inverkip Street, falling out of her scooter while trying to get to stores in the vicinity.

This prompted Stuart McMillan to take up the cause, reaching out to Inverclyde Council and others demanding action.

He is looking to bring them round the table to agree actions that need to take place.

Stuart McMillan with Georgia Laurie (Image: Duncan Bryceland)

Mr McMillan said: "We went around the town with Georgia and we were made of the difficulties in many areas including West Blackhall Street.

"We are looking at ways for everyone to come together to look at the wider issues around disability and accessibility.

"We were told by Amey they are going to start investigations and we have spoken with the council.

"We are aiming to get everyone round the table to come up with a way forward. It needs to be addressed.

"We feel that while it is not deliberate there is a lot of ignorance around the difficulties faced by people in wheelchairs. I think it is important that we take this on."

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: “When completed, the West Blackhall Street project will benefit from improvements to disabled access which will provide a disabled-friendly fully accessible location.

“In the meantime while the next phase of works are taking place, we will continue to provide suitable traffic management arrangements around the project location to make sure that safe access is provided for all members of the public, including the provision of disabled access points.

"We will also look at whether additional improvement works could be made in the area and surrounding locations that would further improve disabled access to the town centre.”