ACCESS for carers and users of Tavistock's Fulfilling Lives Centre should soon find the going a lot safer and easier, following a site meeting at the Molly Owen building in Westbridge Industrial Estate.

Helen McFarlane, senior support worker at the centre, contacted Tavistock's county council member Debo Sellis recently, to explain the situation.

Helen said: 'Basically, all the pavements around us need work. There are a lot of pot-holes and there are no dropped kerbs, which makes it very difficult for anyone with mobility problems.

'We can't get anyone in heavier wheelchairs down off the pavements so we have to go into the road, which is obviously dangerous, and it's also a problem when we have larger groups going out.

'It's difficult for us, but it's also difficult for anyone in this particular area that uses a wheelchair or mobility scooter.'

Cllr Sellis said she was shocked when she visited the area with the county's highways engineer.

'I was dumbfounded — they must have been struggling for years. It was awful, there were cars parked over the pavements, and no dropped kerbs at all.'

Cllr Sellis said she pressed for immediate action to make access safer — she is hoping work should be carried out by Christmas.

Ms McFarlane said she had seen the county's report and recommendations, which include a special road crossing, and was 'really pleased' with the result.

'It's going to make a big, big difference to us, we are all looking forward to it,' she said.