Plans submitted for beach-friendly wheelchair unit in Whitley Bay

Disability charity Beach Access North East has applied for permission to erect a container on the promenade, opposite East Parade, to store around six wheelchairs for use on the beach.

The charity already has beach wheelchairs in 12 other locations.

Until two years ago, Beach Access provided chairs in Whitley Bay and loaned them out on around 140 occasions in 2022.

The application reads: “We accept that the container and equipment would be entirely the responsibility of Beach Access North East and that NTC [North Tyneside Council] would not be responsible for any upkeep, maintenance or damage which may occur.

It continued: “The work carried out by NTC on the promenade and the installation of a new Changing Place facility at the park, make the seafront more disability friendly than ever so we really want to be able to provide that extra facility to allow more people to access the beach itself.”

If granted permission, the charity would offer use of the chairs through pre-booking. During holiday seasons or local events, the charity would “operate ad hoc loans”, having volunteers open the unit for half or full days.

The plans have received support on the council’s planning portal

One commentator wrote: “I fully support this application. I’ve made use of a beach wheelchair for my Mam, she loved every moment on the beach and feeling the sea on her feet. It was magical!”

Another contributed: “Fantastic idea to support more people to use the beach who are prevented by wheelchair dependency."