Beach footpath needs to be upgraded

When a wheelchair user tries to move on sand, due to the weight and narrow wheels of the wheelchair, he/she gets stuck.

Ramla l-Ħamra Bay in Gozo is special in that it is the only sandy beach, which by having a wooden footpath, is nearly accessible to the waterline by wheelchair users. This footpath is highly used by all visitors however it is not suitable for wheelchair users in that:

a) The wooden surface planks are too far apart from each other resulting in a wheelchair user getting repeatedly jolted as the wheels go over each successive plank;

b) the footpath does not reach the waterline but stops several metres away;

c) the part of the seabed where the footpath ends is full of rocks and this makes it too dangerous to walk on for non-disabled persons let alone persons, having mobility problems.

It is quite a shock for wheelchair users and their friends to find that after having access to close to the waterline they find that they can only look at the sea and watch the others swim.

The National Parents' Society of Disabled Persons recommends that the National Commission for Persons with Disability and the authorities take necessary action before the end of summer so that the mentioned problems are tackled and remedied.

The footpath should be directed to the part of the beach where the seabed is clear of rocks and hence safe to ensure equal opportunities for all.