New boardwalk opens at Lowestoft South Beach
It's been built to make the beach more accessible to people with disabilities and parents with pushchairs
A new boardwalk has opened along Lowestoft's South Beach, allowing people with disabilities and parents with pushchairs better access to the seafront.
The project was built as a collaboration between the Waveney Disability Forum and East Suffolk Council.
Its located near to public toilets, the beach access ramp and the Claremont car park and provides year-round access to the beach.
The structure is 1.5m wide and 54m long. It includes a wider 6m by 8m space which can be used for performances or events like fitness classes.
East Suffolk Councillor Frank Mortimer, on behalf of Waveney Disability Forum said: “About fourteen years ago whilst enjoying the sunshine at our beach hut, my wife and I watched disabled people and parents with young children in pushchairs trying to access our lovely South Beach."
"So I decided as a councillor to take this issue to the then Waveney District Council Cabinet to seek support and funding to have access to the beach built. I then took the idea to Waveney Disability Forum to discuss and establish their needs.
"Unfortunately funding was not available for this project at the time. However, more recently funding was identified and so the dream of having access to our beach for disabled people and parents with young children became a reality, enabling them to enjoy the beach the same as we all can.
"We will also continue to look at other ways we can further enhance the project."
10 of the new Eastern Edge beach huts have been designed to be accessible and are available for hire by local community groups and schools.