Paralympian Ben Rushgrove has been putting the city’s tourist attractions through their paces.
The Bath sports star visited the Roman Baths, Victoria Art Gallery, No. 1 Royal Crescent and the Fashion Museum to check the venues’ accessibility for people with a disability or mobility loss.
The tour was part of a new Accessible Tourism Itineraries Project, set up by national tourism board VisitEngland and being led by Bath Tourism Plus in the city.
The aim is to identify accessible tourism venues or those with greatest potential to develop their accessibility which can then be highlighted in a national marketing campaign.
Mr Rushgrove, who won a bronze medal for the 200 metres at the London Games, will be the face of the campaign Accessible Bath. He was accompanied on the tour by his good friend James S’Pack, a wheelchair user.
“Every time I come back from an international competition I’m always glad to get home. I’m delighted that steps are being taken to improve the accessibility of the city as both its beauty and attractions should be available to everyone.”
Over the last year some of Bath’s top attractions have been reviewing and revising their services in order to help visitors who need wheelchair access, who are hard of hearing or are visually impaired.
Chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus, Nick Brooks-Sykes, said: “It is expected that by 2025 just under a third of the UK population will be over 55 with an increase in disability after 45. With a large percentage of this audience purchasing domestic holidays, this is a key audience for which Bath is now better equipped to cater for.”
A map of all accessible venues, including toilets and shops, is available at visitbath.co.uk.
Source: The Bath Chronicle
