A NEW fleet of off-road road mobility scooters is being unveiled at sites across the South Downs National Park.
The reveal of the four-wheeled scooters, which will be available to hire, coincides with Disabled Access Day on Wednesday, March 16.
The scooters, funded by a £174,000 DEFRA grant, can cover all types of terrain to help people with restricted mobility make the most of the South Downs.
In Hampshire, two mobility scooters will be stationed at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Horndean and another at Hogmore Inclosure in Bordon.
Access and recreation leader at the South Downs National Park Authority, Allison Thorpe, said: “With spring on the way, it’s wonderful to be unveiling these off-road mobility scooters and other equipment to help people enjoy the South Downs.
“National parks are for everyone and we’re committed to giving everybody the opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Along with our Miles Without Stiles routes, we’ve really been able to increase our offering to people with mobility challenges and other needs and will continue working hard to create more access opportunities.”
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Members of Hampshire RoamAbility will be trying out the scooters at Queen Elizabeth Country Park on Wednesday.
Di Pettet, from Hampshire RoamAbility, said: “It's wonderful that these mobility scooters will now be available for hire, enabling disabled people to get out in the countryside and enjoy this lovely country park with their families and friends."
Executive member for countryside and regulator services at Hampshire County Council, Cllr Russell Oppenheimer, said: “We want everyone to enjoy the splendour of Queen Elizabeth Country Park and so the arrival of two off-road mobility scooters is fantastic news. For the first time individuals using these specialist scooters will be able to access three tracker-friendly trails that wind through woodland and downland.
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“The council also has plans to install later this year a changing places toilet alongside accessible changing facilities and a shower which we hope will help even more visitors enjoy the day to day activities that many of us take for granted.”
Meanwhile, in Sussex there will be two mobility scooters available to book at Seven Sisters Country Park, inclusive bicycles and wheelchairs at Cuckmere Cycles, paddleboard equipment for people with additional needs at Buzz Active and another scooter will be accessible at Cadence Cycle Café in Cocking from April.
To book a mobility scooter at Queen Elizabeth Country Park from Wednesday contact the visitor centre on 02392 595040 or email qecp.enquiries@hants.gov.uk.
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