Have you been watching the developments at Lauderdale Park take shape? The new park is
now open! With more inclusive and accessible play equipment and a large part of the play
area now suitable for wheels. We are glad that East Lothian Council engaged with us over
the choice of some of the equipment – thanks to everyone who contributed to our survey
about what meets your needs best.
The council have also provided a pathway through the trees and shrubs at the western side
of Lauderdale which we are developing as a sensory trail. You should see a few items to
look at, listen to, touch or smell appearing over the next few weeks as we get into spring.
Reuse Scotland SCIO have provided some small musical instruments, ribbons, baubles and
so on, and I’m planning to plant some herbs for scent, and to keep adding to the rest.
Our vision for the sensory trail is that everyone in the community feels it belongs to them. So
please feel free to contribute any safe (no mirrors or glass items please!) sensory items and
please enjoy using it!
However, we know that Lauderdale does not meet everyone’s needs, as the play area is not
securely fenced and there is no toilet – the nearest accessible toilet is across Bayswell Road
by the leisure pool, and the nearest Changing Places toilet is down at the Bleachingfield
Centre. For these reasons, we are also working to redevelop the smaller play area at the
Bleachingfield. This has the advantage that it is fenced, with nearby disabled parking and a
24-hour Changing Places toilet (accessible with a radar key – but please do be aware that
currently the alarm is not monitored when the library is closed). It’s also close to the Cove
who use it regularly. While we’re not looking to redevelop the whole park, we hope to be able to fundraise to put in a ground-level roundabout, communication and sensory boards, and a wheelchair swing –which would be the first of its kind in East Lothian! We are working with Play As One Scotland to coordinate with suppliers and help us fundraise (we’ll need to raise about
£60,000), and East Lothian Council will support with installation and provide ongoing
maintenance of the equipment.
Out of town, we are continuing to work with Dunbar Community Council, Inclusive Surfing
Scotland and the Countryside Ranger Service to work on better access to our beaches for
everyone whether on feet, wheels or paws! If your family currently struggles to access the
beach for any reason, or you can describe how beneficial it would be for you to have better
access, do get in touch as every bit of testimony helps.
In general, we want to work with the community council and others to make Dunbar and East
Lothian more welcoming, inclusive and accessible, bit by bit. If you have any suggestions –
from a location that really needs a dropped kerb or a wider pavement, to ideas for more
useful signage or lighting, or anything else, do drop me a line and we’ll do what we can to
make that happen.
Alex (alex@dunbarasncommunity.com)
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