By Jed Lanyon
A Warburton resident is calling for changes to be made to the disability access at Warburton Police Station after an elderly man’s motorised scooter became stuck on one of the ramps.
George Davies was travelling to his local police station to obtain a statutory declaration.
As he attempted to turn on one of the five long ramps featured at the station, he became stuck, requiring assistance from a police officer and a nearby mechanic to be freed.
Since then, Mr Davies friend Ivor Wolstencroft has been advocating on his behalf to see improvements made to the police station that opened just 11 months ago.
Mr Wolstencroft contacted the Australian Human Rights Commission and Victoria Police regarding the issue.
Victoria Police issued the following response to Mr Wolstencroft’s concerns:
“As the station is compliant with all legal requirements and only recently built, Victoria Police is unable to undertake any additional building works, particularly given that it is a government organisation with fiscal management responsibilities.”
While Mr Wolstencroft said the building was constructed to standard building codes, he believes the excessive ramps wouldn’t pass the ‘pub test’.
“If you’re being pushed in a wheelchair, that’s fine. I just think the building regulations are behind the times given that we now have people on mobile scooters that need access to public places,” he said.
Mr Wolstencroft believes that the parking lot to the side of the police station would have been a more suitable location for the mobility impaired to access the station.
Mr Wolstencroft said that he was an advocate for a sign that informs locals from the street below if there is an officer on duty inside the station.
He hopes the sign prevents someone from making the journey to the front door only to find the police station to be closed.
“It’s not the end of the world, but for me, I guess it’s the principle of it.
“I respect the police in our community. I think they do a great job and I want to support them.”
Mr Wolstencroft hopes that mobility impaired people have more input on planning applications for public buildings, where disabled people may need access.
“One of the things that can help a disabled person is if there is a wheelchair readily available in the building.
“I’m sure the police are more than willing to help.
“Maybe that’s all that’s needed. But the community would need to know about that.”
