A community watchdog group is calling for a seafront access to be created for the disabled, elderly and families with pushchairs.

We want to get to the beach - Monica and Russell Butcher, of Clacton, campaign for a ramp to be installed at Selsey Avenue. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN 41094-2

The Tendring Access Group works towards providing an accessible environment to people in the district

Russell and Monica Butcher, joint secretaries of the group, said it was an ongoing problem.

Mr Butcher, whose wife uses a wheelchair, said the beach area opposite Selsey Avenue, Martello Bay, Clacton, was very popular.

There is a picnic area by the Martello tower and a stepped access to the lower promenade.

But anyone in a wheelchair or with problems using this has to go further down the road to an access to the beach.

Mr Butcher said: "What we would like is an opening on the seafront for wheelchairs, mums with buggies and older people with walking sticks the general community."

Mike Page, spokesman for Tendring Council, said: "This is a surprisingly complex issue.

"We are sympathetic to disabled users and an existing access point is only 100 metres away but we are also conscious of the need to manage or restrict access to certain other users with a high nuisance profile like unauthorised water bikers.

"In any event, if we don't own the land or there are covenants in force, there is very little we can do and this is frequently the case along this stretch."

Published Tuesday, February 22, 2005

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