Daventry Man Campaigns for Improved Accessibility in Public Spaces

A man who lost a leg to cancer is advocating for enhanced signage and information regarding access to public buildings. Phil Grisewood, from Daventry in Northamptonshire, is currently undergoing the process of relearning to walk after his leg was amputated below the knee earlier this year. Mr. Grisewood, now adapting to life with a prosthetic leg, expressed his astonishment at the “loss of his independence,” citing difficulties with basic tasks such as opening his front door. He proposes the implementation of a traffic light system across all publicly accessible buildings to assist individuals in determining their ease of access. According to the latest government figures, an estimated 16.1 million people in the UK, representing 24% of the population, live with a disability. Mr. Grisewood admitted that he previously had “no interest” in accessibility issues but now aims to raise awareness about the obstacles individuals encounter. The former rugby coach stated: “I am now a champion for disability rights.” He added: “There isn’t a single, comprehensive, source of information where people can look up a building and find out how people with a range of different impairments rate it for its ease of access.” To address this, he expressed a desire for more “upfront information.” Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.