Funders pull out of city mall's mobility scheme

SHOPPING centre bosses are looking for a replacement mobility service for disabled shoppers following the collapse of a city-wide scheme.

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Since November last year customers at Buchanan Galleries no longer have access to the Shopmobility service, which provided motorised scooters for the elderly and the disabled.

The service is a registered charity and was funded by private businesses.

Kathy Murdoch, Buchanan Galleries' centre manager, said she was "disappointed" by the decision to withdraw funding for the service, which she said had been "outwith our control."

The centre is now in discussions with other parties to look at providing a replacement service.

Atif Aslam, 30, from Anniesland, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and used the scooters at Buchanan Galleries' regularly to get about the mall.

He said: "It allowed you to take the scooters onto Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street as well as use them in the centre, whereas the one in St Enoch is restricted to the centre.

"It all comes down to money and cuts."

Ms Murdoch said: "At Buchanan Galleries we are committed to making our facilities as accessible as possible for all shoppers.

"We are disappointed that this service is no longer available in the centre – we worked very hard to try and retain it but unfortunately the decision to withdraw the facility was out with our control.

"We are currently trying to replace the service by meeting with new providers.

"We hope to have a solution in place as soon as possible."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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