A Douglas woman is on a quest get more dropped kerbs installed and improve access for people who rely on wheelchairs and mobility scooters to get around.

Marie Kearney, who lives in Waverly Court sheltered housing complex in the capital, wants to keep her independence but having given up driving is reliant on a mobility scooter.

With the help of her second cousin Michele Edwin from Bride, she has been trying to find routes to the post office and into the town centre.

Mrs Edwin said it was clear from the outset that Waverly Court had been designed more with appearance in mind than practicality.

’Fancy cobbles under the entrance arch give a vibro-massage whether you want one or not. Raised brickwork and a very narrow back gate made me wonder about the planners and architect who put more emphasis on style than practicality,’ she said.

’Part one of our quest was to reach the post office on the far side of Crosby Terrace, a two-minute walk for an able-bodied person.

’Thanks to some very skilful driving, my cousin manoeuvred her scooter through the narrow gate at the back of the complex and out into the uphill lane. So far so good, if you don’t mind back lanes. At the end of the lane, the number of dropped kerbs resembled hen’s teeth.’

In fact they found a low kerb, though it involved travelling some distance along the road then taking a run up and bumping onto the pavement.

Mrs Edwin highlighted the difficulties added by pot holes, steep road cambers and cars often parked blocking the back lanes for anyone using a push chair, pram, wheelchair or mobility scooter.

She also pointed out the post office itself has three steep steps to be climbed on arrival. But further complications awaited.

’Getting onto her scooter again, we found that the pavement was too narrow to turn around and so we went around the block and into another back lane.

’A dropped kerb allowed us access to the crossing near Crosby Terrace, but sadly the entry and exit to the crossing were not flat. The drop down was not bad but mounting the exit kerb caused such a bounce that my cousin hurt her knee.

’We turned down hill and into a minor road leading to Waverly Court only to be faced with a deep kerb at the end and nowhere to turn. My cousin had to get off her scooter and hold onto the wall while I tried to get the scooter down the kerb.’

Mrs Edwin suggested it was high time action was taken.

’I realise that Douglas is an old town with many small roads and money is tight, but the net effect of not having dropped kerbs around the town is to restrict the freedom of movement of people who use scooters and wheelchairs,’ she said.