Click here to return to the minutes index

    Minutes of Meeting

    held at Tigh Na Drochaid, Portree

Tuesday, 31 March 2009 at 12:30 pm 
 

      1. Welcome:– Chair Colin welcomed all those present, including new persons - Margaret McKay, Donald McKay and Pauline Smith. [WFG].
      2. Present: Colin Hutchings, Mike Dunworth, Nicola Rust, Nora Warby, Cllr Ian Renwick, John Holt, Julia Rudram, Una MacLeod, and Joan Turkington (Minute Secretary).
      3. Apologies-Caroline Gould, Liz Macleod, Wendie Elliot, and Jim Towers [ NB Mike Taylor has resigned as Treasurer also as a Committee Member.]
      4. Approval of Minutes (27 January 2009): Minutes were proposed by John Holt, seconded by Mike Dunworth, and unanimously approved.
      5. MATTERS ARISING:
 
  1. PACC [Portree Area Community Company Ltd]  – Jim Towers will raise the subject of footpaths at Home Farm at the next Local Access Forum. Their Chair is W Peppe / Action: Jim Towers. O/S
  2.  Ardvasar Hotel – Julia will visit Hotel when next in Sleat. ?6 months. Action: Julia
  3.  Broadford Co-op.- Toilet roll holders NOT installed. o/s. Action CH
  4.  Broadford Toilets/Highland Council –Toilet seat in the disabled toilet has been replaced. Taps need replacement. Doors and sinks still to be done. –Health and safety issue! Action: o/s email Mark Crowe with cc JL Highland Council
  5.  Discretionary Grants/ General Funding / Marketing [see page 4]
  6.  Skeabost Hotel – Julia, Mike and Nicola will visit after Easter.
  7.  Public liability insurance. Matter to be raised at the H. John Holt, Mike Dunworth and Joan T will be present for SLAP. Action: Joan
  8.  Surveys.– Ongoing.
  9. Broadford Hospital –  See attached note from Natalie Morel.
  10.  Kyle Court, Inverness - See attached note from Natalie Morel.
  11.  Kyle Medical Centre- See attached note from Natalie Morel.   
  12.     Sleat Medical Centre – Adjustment needed on door – Action:Colin to phone.
  13.  Portree Medical Centre – See attached note from Natalie Morel.
  14.  Portree Medical Centre - See attached note from Natalie Morel.
  15.  Portree Hospital – Colin to action – qualified ? See attached note from Natalie Morel..
  16.  Radar Keys –A3 Sign needed on disabled toilet door [on The Green Toilet block] re the nearest key holder outstanding. Also possible tourist information office?  Joan emailed M Crowe. Action: O/S TECS Mark Crowe.
  17.  Kyle Village– kerbs being done, Bank of Scotland pavements being done, resurfacing of road ? Get update from Mark Crowe Action: TECS – Mark Crowe O/S
  18.  Alliance meeting – is scheduled for 30 April – Kyleakin Hall – see attached Agenda etc. [Julia, Nora and Nicola unable to a ttend-WFG AGM.] However John, Mike D and Joan will represent SLAP. Action: John H, Mike D and Joan
  19.  The Constitution - could be revised to incorporate ‘ people who face barriers or represent someone who does.[face barriers] Next AGM 2009 NOTED + trustees? To be held-over till later TBA Action: Colin H
  20.  Portree [signage etc] Various members requested that better signage in general necessary in Portree re parking spaces for disabled persons. eg at Library [former] This fact was agreed by all. Action: IR/H Council / Mark Crowe/ Colin – George Speed to be invited to next panel meeting on 25 November 2008. There was a general discussion on recent ‘walk about’ in Portree with the Macdonald family; photos were taken and a list drawn up – need to identify and prioritise these ‘obstacles’ e.g. need for dropped kerbs George Speed,46 photos taken but no feed-back from George Speed /Julia :Action Mark Crowe TECS O/S
  21.  Columba 1400 – Review for May meeting. A survey by the Access Panel, to look at various aspects to make the Centre fully  DDA compliant. O/S]
  • .
  1.  Co-op Portree - It was reported that the dropped kerb at the back of the needed attention; also ‘pavement bit…missing’; Colin said he would contact TECS . apparently there is only funding available for 2 dropped kerbs. Need to prioritise. Action: .Mark Crowe O/S
  2.  Kyle – TECS to update on this matter Action: Mark Crowe O/S.
  3.  Portree High School – In general also Library – parking for Disabled – Nicola to draw up letter and email to Joan for submission to Head Teacher of High School and Morrisons Construction. Action: Nicola Rust
  4.  Better Health Services – A member was involved in a survey re [leaflet copy] this is being ‘rolled out’ Scotland wide. GP services is the next survey to be considered. Ongoing
 
 
    1. TREASURER’S REPORT
  • The current balance stands at £3403 at the year end.
  • Bank statement shows £3344.97 at 9/3/2009
 
    1. TRAINING - Training Courses –next – subject ‘Health and Safety and Risk Assessment’. Columba 1400 combined with usual Panel Meeting and survey of Columba 1400 – car share etc. Action: ALL
 
    1. NEW BUSINESS
      • Colin reported that in the Planning Office in Portree there is a push-pad on inside door, but none on OUTSIDE door.
      •  Nicola and Nora advised that they had attended a half day course on Disability – Pathways and Forest – ‘user friendly’. This course was organised by Highland Council ‘Donald Kennedy’ Core Paths Project.
 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2.30 pm with Thanks to the Chair.

 

Next Meeting: 

      Tuesday 28 April 2009

      VENUE AND TIME TND 1230 pm 

Approval of Minutes

Date:  31 March 2009

Proposed by:   Mike Dunworth

Seconded by:  John Holt 

Discretionary Grants/General Funding/ Marketing the Access Panel’ – An application has been made to a possible funder, but as yet no reply. Action Nicola Rust

Leaflets will be re-designed. Wendie/Bruce volunteered. On going. Action Wendie & Bruce

**********************************************************

Review Items 9 – 15 in 6 months time. NHS Highland 

Attached notes from Natalie Morel

 

Broadford Toilets [Highland Council]

  • As an option –Mark put forward the suggestion of using the Broadford village hall facilities - this was not accepted
  • The other option was using the new Refurbished Co-op – this was also discounted as not being acceptable.
  • Highland Council has a total of 12 council toilet facilities for either a rebuild or refurbishment
 

NB  Since Portree toilets were recently refurbished any other toilets within Skye would be of a lesser priority. Currently the funding is not available for Broadford – 4 years off

However the small tasks needing done would be completed eg toilet seats, taps, sinks, doors – at a cost of £2,000 –  

      Future priorities include Fort Augustus, Alness, Wick and Thurso.  

Portnalong - New hall – toilets, start date of 1st April 2009

A suggestion was made about using Talisker distillery – but this was not available for general public use.

Minginish New Community Hall - have plans to include toilets

Carbost- Hours open 1st April till end October 8 am till 8 pm 
 

    Portree Village - Mark Crowe – Roadway

  • Portree medical centre at the ‘LUMP’- responsibility of  Highland Council
  • Roadway at RBS to the LUMP’ is the responsibility of Highland Council -  Mark Crowe
  • Portree medical centre – actual disabled parking being done
  • The roadway from the ‘LUMP’ to the hospital – is the responsibility of  NHS Highland.
 

    Action : Natalie Morel [NHS] and Mark Crowe [Highland Council]

  • ;
 
  • Caroline Gould asked if CG Broadford village hall was DDA compliant?
  • Polling stations - Voting in June 2009 – it was stated that there were no hand rails at the entrance to the village hall. Contact highland council
 
  • Broadford Premises [butcher and take Away] ‘Waterfront’ –Visited by panel representatives and found OK.
 

    Bank of Scotland – Broadford / Kyle

    This matter is not an issue for the access panel; Caroline to contact Bank for alternative banking service. Action: C Gould - to be advised of this suggestion.  

    Kyle Village

  • Julia – said it was more a blank canvas allocating parking – who deals with this? She asked this question of Mark Crowe – local and police
  • Julia raised access panel concerns regarding the service point – Mark Crowe/Gordon Macdonald [Highland Council} to report back.
  • The barrier in the Main Street/service point/-One way street – road markings to be re-hashed – still to be done. Action Mark Crowe
  • Disabled space at service point – used all day by persons who are NOT disabled – or displaying a blue badge.

 

     

Accessibility Issues raised by Skye and Lochalsh Access Panel

 

Venue: Mackinnon Memorial Hospital

Issue Changes Required/Suggested Information passed to Response
Unable to use toilets on ward with door shut Accessible toilet facilities required    
Only disabled toilet is at X ray Dept which is up a steep and nearly unmanageable ramp    
Patients transferred to shower chair on the ward and taken to shower in the chair because of limited space.

Unable to use bath alone with door closed  loss of dignity

 Increased space in shower room,

private facility closer by

   
Disabled Parking Spaces are being used by contractors Review parking policy and enforcement best practice.    
 

Venue: Portree Hospital

Issue Changes Required/Suggested Information passed to Response
Doors on first floor are to narrow and too heavy for many people to open. Have doors fixed open with automatic release in case of fire    
 

 

Venue: Portree Health Centre

Issue Changes Required/Suggested Information passed to Response
Front door very heavy to open Change door alter release and closing mechanisms    
Doors into consulting rooms are too narrow for easy access in a wheelchair Alter at least one consulting space    
Roadside kerb is far too high and lack of disabled parking space mean service users cannot attend appointments without assistance Allocate disabled parking    
 

 

Venue: Kyle Health Centre

Issue Changes Required/Suggested Information passed to Response
Lift too small for wheelchair user and assistant to use together Agree appropriate protocol to support wheelchair users and assistants using the lift.    
Heavy door and security pad make dental inaccessible, not usually someone available to open the door. Remove side panel on door

Change length of arm to lessen “weight” of door

Provide accessible bell for when door is closed

    
Hoist in dental surgery cannot be used for larger patients and is actually fitted the wrong way round Replace with appropriate hoist and fit correctly    
Lack of signage for disabled parking facilities Increase signage and spaces    
Door to waiting area is very difficult to open for someone entering in a wheelchair, with a children’s buggy or with a support dog. Make adjustments to door arm keep door open with door stop.    
 
Accessible toilet not accessible; No drop down bar.

Toilet roll holder not accessible from toilet seat without movement from the seat.

Handrail on one side only.

 Make appropriate adjustments and additions    
Other toilets not at all accessible for someone with limited vision or mobility Warn people before they enter toilet facility    
Relatively low level lighting and lack of wall/floor contrast make it difficult to see along main corridor of GP surgery Paint skirting boards and coving a brighter colour    
 
 

Venue: Raigmore Hospital

Issue Changes Required/Suggested Information passed to Response
In some departments and wards it is not possible to shut the door of the toilet once you are in the room if you are using a wheelchair Review accessible toilets across hospital    
Some patient services that are as or more likely to be used by patients with mobility issues are placed some distance from parking areas i.e. cash office Review facilities and wayfinding options.  Investigate internal patient transport options    
Only assisted wheelchairs available at Raigmore, no self propellant chairs for people with limited mobility but without assistance Include some self propelled chairs at outpatients reception    
Significant walking distance for people with limited mobility between Raigmore hospital and Kyle court Provide electric transport to be used by Kyle Court Visitors as required.  
Click here to return to the minutes index