Mobility scooters on daily loans in Kensington & Chelsea

02/05/2007

 "Out and About" - a special Council service set up to allow people with mobility issues to retain their independence - provides mobility scooters on daily loans at different locations throughout the week within Kensington & Chelsea.

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Fiona Buxton, said: “This mobility service aims to give more freedom to people who have trouble getting around the borough. The scheme has been running since March 2006, and now has 95 members. It is becoming a well-used and popular service which the Council fully supports.”

Anyone that has a problem walking or a mobility issue and lives in the borough or visits the borough can become a member of the scheme. All new members will need to register and pay an annual registration fee before being given full training on how to operate the scooters.
 
'Out and About' member Betty Johnson said: “I use the scooters at least once a week for shopping and visiting friends and hopefully when the weather gets better I’ll meet my daughter for lunch and we’ll have a picnic in the park - I haven’t done that since my own children were small.”

Current locations are:
Monday - 10am to 3.30pm: Worlds End Estate, Chelsea (near the Worlds End Pub)
Tuesday  - 10am to 3.30pm: Kensington Gardens, Queens Gate, off Kensington Gore (near The Albert Memorial)
Wednesday - 10am to 3.30pm: Kensington Gardens, Queens Gate, off Kensington Gore (near The Albert Memorial)
Thursday - 10am to 3.30pm: Kensington Town Hall forecourt, Hornton Street, Kensington
Friday - 10am to 3.30pm: Kensington Gardens, Queens Gate, off Kensington Gore (near The Albert Memorial)

Four scooters have now also been made available for daily use by members at Holland Park throughout the week.
 
Prior arrangements can also be made to collect a scooter from Westway Community Transport, 240 Acklam Road, W10 5YG. Membership is £15 per year for Kensington and Chelsea residents and then the scooters are free to use.

For information on hiring a scooter contact Westway Community Transport on 020 8960 8774 any weekday between 10am and 1pm or email: info@westwayct.org.uk.