SPECIALIST disability training and less cluttered walkways and pavements are some of the recommendations under consideration to improve accessibility to Otley.

The proposals also include signage, induction loops for hearing impaired people and the listing of fully accessible events. The moves come following the commission of an inclusivity audit funded by Otley Town Council and undertaken by specialists People & Places Insights.

Conducted in November, the audit praised the historic market town for its well-maintained street furniture, the good state of repair of many pavements and streets and accessible centrally located toilets.

The accessibility efforts of some high street shops and services also received praise, as did Otley Community Hub and Library that was cited as being “modern and easily accessible” as well as “well-lit, which is helpful to people with visual impairment”.

Areas highlighted for improvement include accessible signage, better public transport links, disability training for businesses and the provision of ramps in more shops.

The council says the need to improve accessibility has never been more pressing. According to the government’s Family Resources Survey published in 2021, there are more than 14 million people with a disability in the UK, equating to one in five of the population. Scope’s The Disability Price Tag Survey of 2019 claims that life costs £583 more on average a month for those with a disability.

Chair of Otley Town Council Trade and Tourism Committee Cllr Paul Carter said: “Our long-term aim is to remove the barriers that disabled people are facing when trying to access goods and services in the town centre. While it’s pleasing to have received some praise for efforts to date, we realise there is still a way to go to make Otley as welcoming as possible for all - but we are determined to make Otley a champion for improved inclusivity.”

Mike King of People & Places Insights said: “The aim of our audit is to highlight the main areas for improvement while also celebrating what Local Authorities are already doing well when it comes to removing the barriers people with a disability face when it comes to town centre life. We are pleased to see that Otley is already acting strongly upon our recommendations and we look forward to seeing further outcomes in future.”

Otley Town Council continues to work with fellow members of the Otley Town Co-ordination Group and Otley Disability Group on the recommendations of the report.