Last year a Disability Access Partnership was formed in Moreton in Marsh to make local traders and the community aware of the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act Part III which came into force on the lst October 2OO4.

A Disability Awareness Day was held at a stall in Moreton Market in February, 2OO4 attended by representatives of local charities and interested parties from the community. Young people from Moreton in the Marsh, and people with physical and sensory disabilities were invited to take part, and local people in the town were transported in a wheelchair to find out the hazards of trying to visit local shops and facilities in the town and the problems involved in access to facilities. It was a very successful day and following on from this a Solutions Day was held at Moreton Council Offices on lst October, 2004 where a Building Inspector and Access Auditor were available to answer the many questions worrying local traders concerning the enforcement of the Act. Over 35O letters were sent out to local traders and businesses and a good representation from the local business community was present. Many of the traders have now started to make changes to their premises: Lloyds Bank and the Police Station have made excellent renovations. Our thanks must go to the young people of the town on Awareness Day and the Manager of Lloyds Bank for his great assistance on the Solutions Day and information given to other businesses in the town.

The Access Partnership is now very keen to extend the area to include not only Moreton in Marsh but to stretch out to other towns in the Cotswolds, taking in Chipping Campden, Broadway and Stow on the Wold and would be interested to hear from other towns of work being carried out to conform to the Disability Discrimination Act Part III October 2004. In 2005 we are planning a "Pavements are for People" awareness campaign and looking to carry out an access survey of the area.

We are also looking for someone to Chair our meetings, currently held in Moreton-in-Marsh. Please address all enquiries to: Kate Newman, Fair Shares, Moreton in Marsh. Telephone Ol6O8 812338 or e-mail fairshares@northcots.fsnet.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.

KATE NEWMAN, Disability Access Partnership, Moreton in the Marsh.