Disability campaigners hailed for winning better view of Caley Jags
Group worked with club on relocation of wheelchair-user area
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Disabled supporters watching Inverness Caledonian Thistle matches will have a better view this season, thanks to a local campaign group.
The Cheshire House Musketeers, based at Cheshire House in Inverness, have been working with club officials to improve access for disabled supporters at the ground.
Wheelchair users at the Caledonian Stadium had a limited view of games because a barrier was in their eye-line.
Now the club has agreed to move the disabled area to the front of the main stand, from the first game of the new season.
Yesterday, the Cheshire House Musketeers were named the winners of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Campaigning Service of the Year Award for their work with Caley Thistle.
The group received the award at a ceremony which was attend by Caley Thistle players and the club’s general manager, Mike Smith.
Disabled volunteer Kenny Shand, spokesman for the four-man group, said: “We look at issues involving disabled people and access.
“We found out there was a bit of a problem with viewing at Caley Thistle.
“There is a barrier and, when the ball is up the field, people have trouble seeing it.
“We worked with Mike Smith to draw up plans and came up with two solutions – either raising the area where wheelchair users sit, or moving them in front of the main stand.”
Mr Shand, 49, of Califer Road, Forres, who works at Cheshire House twice a week, said the group is now working on improving access at Chanonry Point, the beauty spot and dolphin-watching stance on the Black Isle.
“We find that, by working with companies and organisations, we get a better result than if we went behind their backs,” he added.
Mr Smith said: “The issues they had at the football ground related to site plans.
“Now we have moved the area to the front of the main stand, which will overcome the problem.”
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