WHEELCHAIR USERS: CHIPPENHAM NEWS reporter Ben Payne experiences what life in Chippenham is like in a wheelchair. Although he found the town is disabled-friendly, he uncovered some worrying problems.

LOSING the ability to walk for just one hour made me realise some of the daily struggles disabled people face in Chippenham.

Planners have made massive progress in improving access for people in wheelchairs but, as I discovered, there is still a lot to be done.

After borrowing a wheelchair from Chippenham Gateway Club I met Margaret Knaggs, chairman of the local Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied club.

Before taking the seat, several preconceived thoughts crossed my mind. Would people react to me strangely? Would shopkeepers be unhelpful and would people lose their patience if I got in the way?

Most of these worries disappeared when I discovered how disabled-friendly Chippenham is.

The town has an open, fairly flat shopping area with lots of space and Ms Knaggs, who pushes wheelchairs for disabled people twice a month, had no trouble helping me up the High Street.

My first task was to withdraw money from a cashpoint. HSBC's was at just the right height but the one at Barclay's towered above me. It was impossible to reach, despite desperate attempts to stretch.

Bank bosses said later plans were afoot to improve it.

Some of the older buildings in the town have formidable steps in front of them, making some shops, cafs and pubs no-go areas for the disabled.

It was frustrating not being able to go where I wanted, and opened my eyes to how many buildings are inaccessible something which I, as an able bodied person, take for granted.

Despite her experience, Ms Knaggs admitted some areas in the town were hard to navigate, particularly pavements in Foghamshire and the steep ramp to the Salvation Army building.

Of course there are also potholes, cobbles, people and cars to avoid.

Perhaps the biggest problem was the lack of dropped kerbs in parts of the town which meant keeping a keen eye out for suitable places to cross.

Ms Knaggs pushed me round a couple of shops and again I was pleasantly surprised how much space there was to manoeuvre, but realised how this space would be swallowed up during peak times.

Although I only had a brief experience of what life would be like in a wheelchair, it gave me an insight into some of the fears and frustrations disabled people experience.

Positive reports about disabled toilets in the town and the help offered by traders, bus companies and Chippenham train station show measures are being taken.

Chippenham resident Tony Daniells, 63, who was diagnosed with arthritis of the spine in 1978 and is now wheelchair bound, praised the town for its easy access.

He said: "I can't think of many major obstacles. The High Street is nice because it has been pedestrianised and there are dropped kerbs by the traffic lights which help.

"The town has been good for disabled people for quite a few years now. People are very helpful. They look after me when I go in shops by helping me to get what I want."

Despite the ease of access in the town centre, Mr Daniells said there were a lack of drop kerbs near his home in Wessex Road.