EMSWORTH BUSINESS ASSOCIATION NEWS

SHOPMOBILITY Come and use the scooters

There has been a good response to the request in the last edition of The Ems for volunteers to help run the new Shopmobility Scheme. Eight people have have been trained and come forward and have received their basic training and are are ready and waiting to to help people with disabilities to hire scooters to enjoy the experience of shopping in Emsworth. The scooters have a range of about 25 miles and are safe and easy to use. In addition to shopping, they can be used to explore the coast and countryside in and around the village. The scheme was opened by the Mayor, Councillor Mrs June Fulcher, on the 6th August with many people enjoying a friendly and informal occasion. Scooters are available every Thursday (10 am to 4 pm) at the Pastoral Centre in the Square. Volunteers will give friendly advice to any residents or visitors considering using one of the machines for the first time. The EBA would like to express our thanks to our partners, the Methodist Church and Shopmobility ([Havant.). Without their help and support, this service could not have been brought to be the village. If you would like more information about hiring a scooter, - we can even arrange for a scooter to be delivered to your home, or about volunteering, please call Tony Roberts on 02392 428494. who will be happy to answer your questions.

This project will run for initial trial period of 12 months and, subject to its success, we hope to find ways of making Shopmobility yet another good reason for coming to shop and explore the area.

Emsworth Community Association

We are delighted that the new extension to the hall has finally been opened and is now in full operational use. The ECA committee and all associated with the planning and implementation of this project deserve credit for this achievement. The hall is used by about 1000 people a week and the EBA is proud to have donated £3000 towards the completion of the new kitchen,  which we are sure will become another community asset.

TheDisability and Discrimination Act 1995.

New provisions relating to this Act become law at the beginning of October 2004. The Act itself is all about fairness in treating people with disabilities as valued employees and customers.

Owners of businesses must ensure their recruiting policy encourages applications from people with disabilities and ensure they are treated the same as other people.

Customers and clients with disabilities are entitled to the same level of service in shops and businesses as other people. This means that access to premises must be free of hazards and where possible adapted to ensure easy entry and exit. The premises should be well lit in some cases it might be necessary to lower counters etc. As you walk around Emsworth you will see that the larger premises in Emsworth have installed ramps clearly it would not be reasonable for small shops nd business premises to make such large structural alterations but small changes and the removal of obstacles might be necessary. Often the way in which service is provided to those with disabilities is for the service provider to come out of their premises to a parked car or scooter deal with the request directly.

The EBA has advised our members accordingly and the access officer at Havant Borough Council has given advice to business people on specific issues. Many of our shops and business premises are small and often the way in which service is provided to those with disabilities is for the service provider to come out of their premises to a parked car or scooter and dealing with the request directly.

We want to ensure that all people using  Emsworth have access to the wonderful variety of shops and services here. If problems are encountered please discuss your concerns in the first instance with the service provider who will make every attempt to rectify the situation.

NO CLONES HERE!

There has been discussion in the national press about the loss of local identity in the design of towns and villages. The distinctive features of our shopping areas are being lost as the developers and planners clone town after town. We must be on our guard to ensure this does not happen here erasing local identity. This special place has many unique features that need our protection and one way of doing this is for local people to take every opportunity to use the full range of facilities on offer. The recent changes to some of the shops in the village, has had an impact on our shopping patterns. The fear that we would lose our Post Office passed when it was relocated to the Coop.

The One Stop shop has disappeared and become a Tesco Express and whilst we welcome these changes we wish to remind residents and visitors that the independent and local shops in the village continue to provide personal service, excellent quality and competitive prices.

The Village Fruit and Veg. shop has returned to new premises in the High Street. We once again have two quality fruit and vegetable shops to complement our butchers, bakers, delicatessen and other shops that provide essential shopping needs.

Emsworth shops, businesses and other services do not try to compete with larger stores and facilities elsewhere, but the EBA believes Emsworth facilities provide a popular alternative to shopping in a large impersonal complex. There are early signs that people are growing tired of such places and we remind all residents that the survival of our unique facilities depends on their continued and sustained use by local people.

Brendan Gibb-Gray. On behalf of the EBA committee.