Reservoir rambles for the disabled

YORKSHIRE WATER is working to improve access around some of its scenic reservoirs so that more wheelchair users can visit the popular countryside beauty spots. 

Approximately two million people visit Yorkshire Water’s 70,000 acres of land, such as reservoirs, ancient woodland, and moorland, every year. The locations have become increasingly popular since they first opened up to the public after privatization of the water sector in 1989.

The company has teamed with Experience Community, a not-for-profit community interest company that helps disabled people access the British countryside. This has already resulted in more disabled group rambles around Yorkshire Water reservoirs, such as Langsett in South Yorkshire and Swinsty in the Washburn Valley, on specially-designed mountain trikes and bikes.

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Says Geoff Lomas, recreation manager at Yorkshire Water: ‘We have 115 scenic reservoirs dotted around the region and these are all popular with dog walkers, picnic-goers, runners, anglers, and cyclists, but we now want to make some of them more inviting to disabled people as a go-to destination. This might mean improving paths around reservoirs by making them flatter and wider and addressing any surface issues so wheelchair user’s accessibility needs are met.

‘Many of our reservoirs are now recreational hotspots and we want to make them as inclusive as possible by providing information and access that is both informative and enticing to disabled people.’

For more information, go to www.yorkshirewater.com/walks 


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