Councillor calls for flexible disability access at Morecambe music venue
Louise Belcher proposes inclusive practices for disabled attendees
calls for improved practices by councillor Louise Belcher.
The facility, owned by Lancaster City Council, recently faced issues that affected a visitor following changes to identification requirements for disabled individuals and their carers.
Councillor Belcher highlighted at a council meeting that a broader range of identification should be accepted at The Platform, as well as other council-linked venues, to ensure access is seamless for disabled people.
Inclusivity Over Barriers
Coun Belcher has raised the point that disabled individuals should not have to navigate additional third-party processes or pay fees to prove their needs, already recognised through lawful systems.
Advocating for inclusivity, she emphasises that access should be facilitated by enabling participation rather than creating barriers.
Alternatives to Third-Party Cards
Coun Belcher petitioned for council-linked venues to avoid making third-party cards like Nimbus Access Cards mandatory for access or essential carer tickets.
She calls for the inclusion of alternative forms of disability verification, such as Blue Badges, Personal Independence Payment, and Disability Living Allowance, to be accepted at venues seeking to provide reasonable adjustments.
Additional requests include ensuring that venues offering card systems like Nimbus provide a free option and make explicit that holding such a card is not required for reasonable adjustments.
Supporting Motion
The motion put forward by Coun Belcher received backing from all councillors, and Coun Abi Mills, the council’s disability champion, supported it via a message, despite her absence from the meeting.
Coun Mills recommended that the Lancaster District Access Forum be involved in the venue review process to further support those initiatives.
The broader aim is to use welcoming language and provide clear communication at venues to assist disabled visitors effectively, marking a step towards inclusive practices across council-linked event spaces.