A Coastline to Enjoy: Lived Experience Shows the Value of Accessible Facilities

A recent message received by TCC from a wheelchair user provides an encouraging example of what accessible coastal facilities can make possible.

The person originally contacted TCC following our recent campaign highlighting concerns about accessibility along the Denbighshire coastline.

They recently visited Rhyl to experience the seafront for themselves — and their feedback was considerably more positive than the concerns that initially prompted their contact.

They told us that they found the wheelchair ramps reasonably accessible, although one ramp had accumulated a significant amount of sand, meaning they were only able to use it partially.

However, the ramp nearest to the beach wheelchair hire facility was fully accessible.

Most importantly, they told us that they were able to independently enjoy the seafront and facilities all the way to Kinmel Bay in one direction and Prestatyn in the other.

They are now planning to return on a regular basis.

Why this matters

For TCC and our campaign partners, this is an important example of what accessibility should mean in practice.

Accessibility is not simply about whether a ramp exists. It is about whether people can use public spaces independently, safely and with confidence.

Being able to travel along the seafront, access facilities and enjoy the coastline without needing someone else to provide assistance is a significant outcome for disabled people.

This lived experience is therefore a welcome measure of progress.

It also highlights why accessibility improvements need to be accompanied by good maintenance. Even where appropriate infrastructure is available, something as simple as accumulated sand can make a ramp difficult or impossible for a wheelchair user to negotiate.

There is still work to do

We do not see this experience as meaning that every accessibility issue along the Denbighshire coast has been resolved. Our campaign continues to seek clear information and action from Denbighshire County Council on issues raised by disabled residents and accessibility advocates.

But positive experiences matter too.

When someone tells us that they have been able to independently enjoy a stretch of coastline that they intend to revisit regularly, that is exactly the kind of outcome that accessibility campaigning should ultimately deliver.

It demonstrates the difference that accessible infrastructure can make to people’s lives — providing not just physical access, but freedom, independence and the opportunity to participate in community life on an equal basis.

We are grateful to the wheelchair user who took the time to share their experience with us.

Their message is a valuable reminder of what the campaign is ultimately about:

making sure everyone can enjoy the coast.

About the campaign

TCC has been working with disabled residents, accessibility advocates and partner organisations to raise concerns about accessibility along the Denbighshire coastline and to encourage improvements that enable disabled people to enjoy the coast independently.

The campaign is continuing to engage with the issues raised by local people and to seek constructive dialogue with the Council.