Beach wheelchairs are now free to use at two prime seaside locations.
A scheme by Great Yarmouth Borough Council means the sand and sea are now accessible for people with limited mobility in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.
These special wheelchairs sport large pneumatic wheels, designed to glide over the sand, eliminating the risk of damage to regular wheelchair wheels or getting stuck.
However, users must be able to transfer themselves from their usual wheelchair as there is no hoist on these sandy-bound vehicles.
Additionally, due to the struggle of maneuvering these wheelchairs, it's required that another person pushes them.
The chairs come with a chest strap but lack head support.
User restrictions include a weight limit of 114kg and a minimum height of 92cm, ensuring comfort and safety for all.
One wheelchair is always accessible at Gorleston, located in the shelter near the ramp, opposite the shops and restaurants.
The other is in Great Yarmouth, residing in a new storage area close to the public toilets at The Jetty, neighboring the Sling Shot and Big Wheel attractions in the Sea Life Centre Gardens.
Handy for future planners, bookings can be made up to a month in advance online.
The wheelchairs are free to hire with one booking in each location per day. Book the 8am slot on the booking system, however people can collect and return the wheelchair any time between 8am and 8pm.
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Ruth Cockrill, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s marketing and events officer, said: ‘’We know our beach wheelchairs are very popular and are delighted to be able to help even more people enjoy the fantastic beaches we have in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.
‘’The locations of the wheelchairs are easy for people to access and convenient.''
The funding for this project comes from the Experience project at Interreg Europe, co-funded by the European Union.
This initiative aims to reduce disparities in development, growth and quality of life across Europe’s regions.
Bookings can be made up to four weeks in advance via
https://clubspark.net/GreatYarmouthWheelchairHub/Booking/
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