I’m a big fan of beach holidays, and although in a wheelchair with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, I have always found a way to get to the water. Summers in south Devon often involve sweating mates and family, improbable terrain, me hanging on to someone’s back or perching precariously in my chair, before I’m ritually offloaded into the surf and the bracing waters of the Channel. Fifteen minutes later, I’ll be dragged out again, like a drowned seal. On one hand it’s a truly invigorating experience; on the other it can be quite humiliating.
It’s worse with Julie, my wife. One for foreign shores, she’s only too happy to dump me out of my wheelchair and into the pool, to the astonishment of fellow holidaymakers.
Disability is about visibility and – excuse the pun – it helps to make a bit of a splash. The shenanigans in the pool, often mean I am treated like some kind of Superman. In Thailand, for example, the hotel staff would hold up traffic so they could carry me in and out of the Andaman sea and there are always numerous volunteers keen to assist Julie, after their earlier shock, as she brutally manhandles me back into my chair, after I’ve pounded a few lengths.
This brilliant support means I still get to swim and play the clown, but it’s not a long-term option for anyone living with severe disability and craving a saltwater hit. However, all is not lost as an increasing range of water wheelchairs are getting disabled people back into the sea.
The UK has more than 1,200 beaches and a basic search on the internet for beach wheelchairs, comes up with plenty of links, from Devon to Norfolk. However, pinpointing specific locations and its mobility services can be difficult and still leaves room for improvement. Lee Fisher, lifeguard services manager for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which employs more than 200 lifeguards for the summer months, says: “There is no definitive list of what places have a beach wheelchair, it’s more down to word of mouth. But they offer huge potential for bringing visitors to an area if providers let people know they are out there”.
This inadequate signposting of the service can leave disabled people disappointed in their search for an accessible beach with a chair. Blue flag beaches, of which there are 102 in England and Wales, can, though, offer a way forward. This prestigious award is a yardstick many beaches aspire to and part of its requirements are to “provide features for wheelchair users or have them at a nearby blue flag beach” – but this causes its own problems. Although 90% of the beaches are wheelchair-friendly, less than 50% provide a beach wheelchair. In my eyes accessibility is all about the freedom of movement. I appreciate facilities might include a disabled toilet, a parking bay or even a nice promenade to wheel along, but if the main feature is a ramp on to the beach, which leaves me marooned in the sand because my wheels won’t turn, then what’s the point?
A public information sign for a beach wheelchair would rectify this and mapping the service would enable beaches to draw in extra custom, but it is also about supply and selling into the idea. The responsibility of providing the chairs normally falls to local authorities, but they do not come cheap, retailing from upwards of £1,500 and often charities like Beach Within Reach have to step in. Based in Thanet, Kent, it provides 17 chairs, which are paid for from donations. Debbie Fifield, its secretary, says, “As well as the beaches locally, we provide chairs for schools, and events such as weddings and firework displays all free of charge. They allow people with mobility issues to join in and gives them back some freedom.”
These services reach out far beyond the local community, helping to attract visitors with genuine needs, but health and safety can still be a barrier. Some service providers are unable to assist clients with transfers to beach wheelchairs, which is a problem I am all too aware of, so be prepared and go mob-handed when possible. And then there is the training in how to use them – it’s a wheelchair with big wheels, not a rocket ship!
Holidaying in Mallorca, I was rapt at how the island faced beach and pool accessibility. Many hotels have sleek swimming pool hoists and most public beaches benefit from wooden walkways, often right next to the sea. The lifeguard stations stock a selection of beach wheelchairs. They vary in design, but all have big chunky wheels, and are able to traverse the sand and get you into the water. As ever, you will need someone to “haul arse”, but the whole principle is a game changer. I was blessed with a floating Mobi-Chair, and the lifeguard was always in attendance. I was able to swim three times a day – it made my holiday.
It’s something we could learn from. The domestic tourism market is worth £24bn a year to the UK. Beach wheelchairs could be a beacon for attracting visitors and ensuring no one gets left behind.
