New beach wheelchairs helping more people access Lincolnshire’s coast

New beach wheelchairs and all-terrain scooters are helping more people with mobility issues enjoy the Lincolnshire coast.

The equipment has been brought in to improve access to the King Charles III England Coast Path, including areas that were previously difficult to reach for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.

Eight beach wheelchairs and a Tramper motorised all-terrain scooter have been placed at Ingoldmells, Chapel Point and Mablethorpe.

National Trust Sandilands now has two Tramper scooters and a beach wheelchair, while another Tramper has been added at Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve.

The specialist wheelchairs are designed to make it easier to get onto the sand, using bigger tyres and a different chassis to stop them sinking into soft ground.

Oliver Ellison, 15, from Sheffield, said the service has made a big difference to his visits.

He said: “I’ve been coming for years. The Hippocampe chair, I’ve been using it for quite a while.

“It helps me to get on the beach which is something that would be very hard for me to do in my usual chair.”

Gemma Bateman, from Nottingham, said the accessibility offer is the reason her family keeps returning to the Lincolnshire coast.

She said: “Being able to get my children on the beach, have picnics and not have to just stay on the promenade is life changing.

“It’s opened up the beach for me in such an amazing way.”

Further work is also being carried out to improve access along the coast path, including safety fencing in places where views across the salt marsh were previously out of reach for people with mobility needs.

Beach Ability Lincolnshire, run by volunteers, provides all-terrain wheelchairs, walkers and scooters from bases including Ingoldmells and Chapel Point.

The service is free to use, although advance booking is required.