SO MUCH FOR OPENNESS

07 April 2005

So much for the openness and honesty that the council coalition promised the people of Swansea. It is clear that the Lib Dem-Independent-Conservative alliance has had no intention of returning the Slip Bridge to its rightful place.The debate about the future of the bridge has been a total sham. It is true to say that the people of Swansea are not unfamiliar with this type of play acting by their elected members.However, Councillor Gerald Clement goes too far when claiming the bridge could not be returned because of the need to comply with disability rights legislation on access (Post, March 30).The legislation that he refers to is about ensuring that people with a disability have equal access to services and public facilities. With the ground level road crossing and the slip ramp onto the beach, the bridge is not an issue for people with a physical disability. To suggest this as a reason for not putting the bridge back is a dishonest, cynical and unprincipled use of people with disabilities to justify a decision which is more much likely to be about ensuring that the developers of the seafront flats can sell accommodation with a view.If Councillor Clement really wanted to ensure people with physical disabilities could access the bridge, he might suggest that some of the extensive publicly owned ground around the bridge is used to develop a ramp that addresses the Guildhall side of the bridge and another that replaces the steps at the slip ramp side of the bridge on the beach.

Gary Smith
Bryn Road
Brynmill
Swansea