Student Ben Morris talks about life for a person in an electric wheelchair in Winchester

Ben, 21, is studying a BA (Hons) Journalism at the University of Winchester. He was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

He is originally from Swindon and is currently living in Burma Road.

Ben said: "Winchester is a city, full of history and culture. As well as a beautiful place to live. But have you ever considered the ground you walk on or the step into your favourite pub? Well for people like myself, these are things that have to be considered.

"I’m Ben Morris, and I was born with a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This means that I have to use an electric wheelchair to trundle along with. I am a student at the University of Winchester, and have been able to use the past three years to understand just how accessible the city is.

The Brooks Shopping Centre

"Whenever I go out, there are certain things that I have to look out for. These include, but are not restricted to, curbs, steps, potholes, cobbled streets and even the gradient of a hill. This is essentially a lottery wherever I go. However, although some improvement is needed, Winchester does stand out.

"So, let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. Around the city, as many people will know, there are quite a few pubs. Many of which are located in old buildings. Most, if tampered with, would most likely just crumble. This means that ramps or lifts simply can’t be installed. Although this is something I have to accept, it is really rather irritating that I have to remove those pubs, or even clubs from the equation when planning nights out. Some of these include The Royal Oak and the well known nightclub Vodka. I can’t even get through the front door because of my worst enemy… a step!

"Although they aren’t essential, there are also some shops on the high street which do include the dreaded step… but as long as I can get in all the other shops then I really don’t mind.

"I have one more gripe… The Brooks Shopping Centre. Wow that place is bumpy! The shops and units themselves, are fine. The areas between, are not. The flagstone flooring is uneven and incredibly bouncy, but it fits the aesthetic of the rest of the city, which is why, I assume it hasn’t been changed. However, due to this, I tend to avoid the building altogether.

"Now, time for the fun bit… well, my idea of fun. Winchester in general is very accessible. The places that I am more likely to visit in the city, like Sainsbury’s, Costa or Wetherspoons, are completely accessible and I have no problem entering any of them. This is something that I noticed along the majority of the high street. Whether it’s a flat threshold or a slight incline into the shop, these places suit my needs perfectly!

"The university is also such an accessible place. The campus has lifts and alternative routes, to every building I need to go to. I know I keep going on about flooring, but everywhere you go is very smooth and there aren’t many patchy parts of outside surfaces. (There are a few, but I just sort of do a little swerve to avoid them.)

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"What you are probably expecting me to say is: ‘The Cathedral is rubbish!’… BUT NO! In terms of rolling around the place, it is brilliant. The flagstone flooring is slightly bumpy, but the stones aren’t so worn that a wheel is suddenly going to fall down a mini pothole, which actually makes the experience, physically smooth to drive along. I can access all rooms apart from one (which has nothing in it) and there are lifts for general easy access. There is a specific lift that is essentially a platform that travels along the side of a flight of stairs, which makes you feel like you are actually going up them. That was a novel feeling, I don’t go up the stairs very often.

"In theory, Winchester isn’t perfect, but what is? The city definitely stands out as a place that, where it can, it will adapt. Unfortunately the barriers that I face, are not uncommon throughout the uk. So, in my humble opinion, towns and cities across the UK should definitely take a leaf out of Winchester’s book."

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Kimberley Barber