'Life-changing' - new specialist wheelchairs improve access to beach at Mablethorpe
Specialist wheelchairs and all-terrain scooters have been introduced in Mablethorpe to make the beach and coastal path easier to reach.
The vehicles, which are also available at Ingoldmells, Chapel Point and Sandilands, are helping more people with mobility issues to enjoy the Lincolnshire coast.
They have been loaned to Lincolnshire County Council by the charity, Beach Ability Lincolnshire, which is run by volunteers.
And they have already had a successful impact, according to grateful mum Gemma Bateman, who often visits the Mablethorpe area from her home in Nottingham.
Gemma has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, which provides structure and support for the skin, blood vessels, bones and organs.
“These wheelchairs have opened up the beach in such an amazing way,” she said.
"Being able to get on the beach with my children, have picnics and not just stay on the promenade is life-changing for me.”
The equipment has been brought in to improve access to the King Charles III England Coast Path, including areas that were previously difficult to reach for wheelchair-users and people with limited mobility.
Eight beach wheelchairs and a Tramper motorised all-terrain scooter have been placed at the seaside resorts.
National Trust Sandilands now has two Tramper scooters and a beach wheelchair, while another Tramper has been added at Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve.
The specialist wheelchairs are designed to make it easier to get on to the sand, using bigger tyres and a different chassis to stop them sinking into soft ground.
Oliver Ellison, 15, from Sheffield, said the service has made a big difference to his visits to the coast.
He said: “I’ve been coming for years. The new chairs help me to get on the beach which is something that would be very hard for me to do in my usual chair.”
Meanwhile Mandy Pemberthy, who has cerebellar ataxia (a neurological condition) and ME and lives at Anderby Creek with her husband Mark, also praised the new equipment.
Mandy said: "When you have conditions like the ones I am dealing with, your mental health is affected badly and it can be a real struggle.
"But being able to get by the sea again is an amazing boost, and it really makes a difference.”
Mark said: "The thing that nobody talks about is the benefit to those who support and care for the people with limited access.
"Something like this is terrific and means that Mandy and I can both get to the beach for a much-needed lift."
Further work is being carried out to improve access along the coastal path, including safety fencing in places where views across the salt marsh were previously out of reach for people with mobility needs.
Beach Ability Lincolnshire provides a range of all-terrain wheelchairs, walkers and scooters from its bases along the coast. The service is free to use, although advance booking is required.