How our Christmas markets have become among most accessible

The Manchester Evening News paid a visit to put this claim to the test

- GRETA SIMPSON

MANCHESTER'S Christmas Markets has been named one of the most accessible in the country as it features its own special accessible toilet and changing station for the third year in a row.

In honour of the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Manchester Evening News went along to put this claim to the test.

We were joined by three members of the Manchester Disabled People Access Group (MDPAG), who each have a range of different needs.

Flick, 77, is chair of the group; she is diabetic and walks with a crutch. Katie, 37, is their administrator and she uses a self-propelled wheelchair. Pete, one of the group's trustees, is autistic.

Flick, Pete and Katie pointed out a number of positives throughout, including wider walkways, plus a number of ramps and quieter areas. There was also the flagship accessible toilet, the Mobiloo, which features an electric hoist, changing station, Bluetooth speakers and sensory lights - though this was out of order when the M.E.N visited.

Despite these advances, the group also identified a number of areas needing improvement, including the amount of seating, height of the stalls, loud music and inadequate signage for visually impaired people. Getting to the market via public transport - or finding a place to park - was also fraught with difficulty.

"Even among disabled people, each person's needs are going to be so different," Flick told the M.E.N. "Two people in wheelchairs won't necessarily require the same thing."

Pete agreed. "I prefer quiet places - but I have autistic friends who like going clubbing," he said. "They like bright lights and loud noises. I think giving people options is the main thing.

"But if people find an environment difficult to get around or use, you don't get complaints; they just won't come."

THE GOOD