Green Party Activist Refutes Claim Plan to Rescue Cannock Chase Will Have a Negative Impact on Disabled Visitors.

 

Steve Jones, a member of the Green Party Disability Group, has today refuted claims made on social media that a plan to protect Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation (SAC) from further damage will impact on disabled users.

 

Mr Jones said: ‘I have yet to read or hear from a disabled person giving their opinion. In fact, I see lie after lie and disabled people are being used to propagate these falsehoods; be it path closures, carpark losses and restricted access for the disabled’

 

The comments made on Facebook relate to proposals by the SAC to remove 51 out of 123 parking locations at various points around the Chase, 33 of which are pull-in bays for 4 cars or less and so unsuitable for disabled parking.

 

Speaking about the comments Mr. Jones said: ‘Disabled people have a voice and an opinion, and we do not need social media hooligans speaking for us! he added, the SAC is improving access for disabled people as well as making the Chase disabled friendly’.

 

 

The SAC also plans to create 100 parking spaces at the Marquis Drive visitor centre, these will operate under the council’s blue badge scheme. The visitor centre is a focal point for disabled visitors to the Chase and off-road electric scooters are available for hire, making most trails starting from that point accessible.

 

At 26 square miles Cannock Chase if the smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, it attracts 2.5million visitors a year, this is expected to rise to 3million by 2026.

 

The £7.5 million SAC plan to improve paths, parking and signage on the Chase will be paid for through a levy on local housing developments.

 

In 2019 the a spokesperson for the SAC said in reference to the impact of rising visitor numbers ‘let it be under no doubt that Cannock Chase is dying’, the aim of the plan is to safeguard the long-term future of the site.

 

Jade Taylor, Coordinator of North Staffs Green Party who are supporting the SAC and local campaign group For the Love of Cannock Chase said, ‘it is so sad that people who are campaigning to protect a vital natural habitat are facing insults on social media’

 

She added that although local Greens would like to see the SAC plans go further ‘we recognize the efforts they are making to protect Cannock Chase for future generations and fully support them’.

 

A council vote due to be held on the SAC plan this week has been postponed until the new year.