Surrey museums complete accessibility project

Three museums in Surrey have celebrated the completion of a project to improve accessibility for disabled visitors.

The Rural Life Living Museum, Guildford Museum and East Surrey Museum are now even more inclusive, said the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, which helped deliver the scheme.

Mark Wiles, chair of East Surrey Museum in Caterham, said that the project had looked at "simple things" which could be improved.

He told BBC Radio Surrey this included putting up a sign directing people to an accessibility ramp and a "nice new glass door that is much more welcoming".

Wiles said arms had been added to chairs so older people could get in and out of them more easily.

"That was something that we didn't really think about because when you're younger you don't think about these things," he said.

"We've done a lot, but we're still doing more," Wiles continued.

He said that the museum had had a "very positive" reaction to the changes from all its visitors.

Surrey Coalition Of Disabled People said it had provided disability awareness training to staff and volunteers at all three museums to help them make the visitor experience "even more enjoyable".

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