Royal Welsh electric scooter call

Campaigners have urged the Royal Welsh Show to provide electric scooters for visitors with disabilities. Disability Wales and a sister group in Powys said the show was one of the few major events not to hire them out. Manual wheelchairs are only available at the moment, but the size of the show and its steep hills prove a challenge for those pushing them, claim users.

Show secretary Barri Jones said officials would consider introducing electric scooters in the future. Mervyn Baynton, 52, has been visiting the show for 15 years, but diabetes has affected his ability to walk long distances, and his wife, Anne, is unable to push a wheelchair around the showground. Mrs Baynton, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, said: "I would find it difficult to push my husband around the show, but electric scooters/chairs would solve that problem. Other events we've been to offer the service, but the Royal Welsh doesn't."

Chris Birch of Disability Powys said the show should have introduced electric wheelchair/scooter hire. He said although they were falling in price and becoming lighter and smaller, many people were unable to transport them to outdoor events. "Access on the showground has improved over the last two years and a shuttle bus with disabled access has also been introduced," added Mr Birch. It's best practice to have the electric chairs or scooters, but currently the show isn't breaking the regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act."

Mr Birch is working on a project with Age Concern to ensure electric chairs are available at every outdoor event in Powys, and he said the Royal Welsh had shown an interest. "It really is something they should have thought about in the past," he explained.

Disability Wales said other major events such as the National Eisteddfod provided electric wheelchairs. Spokeswoman Penny Bestic said: "If other events can do this, why can't the Royal Welsh? It should be easier for the Royal Welsh organisers because they have a fixed venue, unlike the eisteddfod."

Royal Welsh secretary Barri Jones said: "It is something we will look at. There are a number of things that creep up each year and we will weigh up what is possible. We do offer ordinary wheelchairs and people can bring their own electric scooters onto the showground."