A CHARITY is calling on businesses in Warrington to pledge to work with them to improve accessibility for disabled people in the town.

Warrington Disability Partnership is asking businesses to sign up to the Accessible Warrington Pledge to ensure a better standard of facilities for disabled people.

Businesses who sign up are asked to pledge that they will work with the charity at the predesign stage of all new-build and major refurbishment schemes and to include dementia-friendly facilities and fully-accessible toilets wherever appropriate and possible.

The pledge will also see businesses consult with disabled people over their premises and services and design and build to minimum accessibility standards.

Tuesday September 6 saw the launch of the Accessible Warrington Pledge at the Town Hall, marking 25 years to the day since Warrington Disability Partnership first featured in the Warrington Guardian.

Chief executive and founder Dave Thompson said: “September 6 is a very significant date for Warrington Disability Partnership as it marks the day of our first ever article in the Warrington Guardian in 1991, which was about improving access and parking for disabled people in the town centre.

“We had a look at what we could do to commemorate the date and a big achievement of Warrington Disability Partnership has been our influence in changes to buildings.

“We’ve worked on everything from corner shops right the way through to buildings like the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Hollins Park Hospital, Warrington Hospital and Warrington Borough Council premises.

“One of the first things we worked on was the Town Hall, where the stair lift finished a few steps from the bottom and a few from the top.

“We’re very proud of all the things we’ve worked on and the relationships we’ve built along the way so there is nothing better to celebrate the last 25 years and build upon that.”