A NUMBER of improvements are planned in order to make Warrington town centre more accessible for disabled people.

The Warrington Business Improvement District has announced several new initiatives following an audit by Warrington Disability Partnership.

To celebrate the announcement, members of the BID took part in Purple Tuesday earlier this week – an international campaign aiming to improve the experiences of disabled shoppers.

Participants dressed in purple before navigating the town centre using mobility scooters and wheelchairs.

WDP co-founder and chief executive Dave Thompson, said: "Thanks to the audit commissioned by the BID, a number of new recommendations will be adopted by the BID working with Warrington Borough Council’s strategic equality group.

"These include ensuring that sufficient and disabled-friendly seating is available in the new Time Square development and across the town, awareness of designated disabled drop-off areas where drivers will not receive a parking caution, improved litter picking and cleanliness of pavements, signage and way finding, induction loops, access ramps, autism friendly hours, awareness training and improved kerbs and pavements.

"The BID board members had fun taking on the mobility scooter and wheelchair challenges today, but there’s a serious message behind Purple Tuesday.

"Nationally, it is recognised that £249billion is spent by disabled people.

"Locally, members of Warrington Shopmobility spend approximately three quarters of a million pounds in the town.

"Thanks to Warrington BID, I'm proud to say that Warrington is taking a holistic approach to the issues faced by disabled people across the town centre.

"These positive initiatives will be welcome by many."

Other new schemes include free access audits and disability awareness training for staff for businesses who are part of the BID.

Warrington BID manager Harriet Roberts added: "Statistics show that one in five customers will have a disability, and 80 per cent will have a condition that is not visibly apparent.

"We believe that an accessible town is a welcoming town, and that is why one of the BID’s key themes is to make Warrington a truly accessible town.

"We commissioned Warrington Disability Partnership to review the access issues across the town earlier in the year, and we’re proud to say that a number of recommendations are being adopted by the council.

"In addition to that, we have invested in a hidden disability awareness scheme that will be available across the town centre and we are also giving businesses free access to audits and training opportunities – so we are set to see some real improvements over the coming months."