A WHEELCHAIR user has praised the Westgate Centre’s efforts to make the shopping complex accessible for the disabled.

The £440m centre is to join retailers across the country to mark Purple Tuesday, the UK’s first accessible shopping day.

Staff at Westgate Oxford will today promote awareness of disabled customers, highlight the difficulties existing disabled shoppers face and measures that can be put in place to overcome them.

Oxford Mail:

Robert Light, 75, from Kidlington, who uses a wheelchair because he struggles to walk with arthritis, said he has visited the Westgate on numerous occasions and enjoyed his trip every time.

He added: “I was at the Westgate last week with a friend and we went to the cafe in John Lewis.

“I’ve been to the Westgate quite a few times and I have never had a problem with the lift there - everything works.

“I think Purple Tuesday is a good idea - the more they can highlight access issues the better.”

The initiative, which is coordinated by disability organisation Purple, is being supported by Landsec, owner and operator of Westgate.

At the Westgate Kiosk there will be an information hub for shoppers.

At drop-in sessions at the kiosk, people with disabilities and their families and carers will be invited to discuss accessibility.

Companies and organisations taking part in the day include Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Royal Cars, Experience Oxfordshire and the John Lewis Partnership.

Centre manager Brendan Hattam said: “Making Westgate an enjoyable experience for every visitor is very important to us. We’re looking forward to working with a series of Oxford brands and businesses to improve accessibility not just in Westgate, but across the city.”

Since launching its initiative in August, leading disability organisation Purple has secured more than 500 sign-ups from established and up-and-coming retail organisations keen to secure their share of the Purple Pound - worth an estimated £249 billion.

Nearly one in every five people in the UK has a disability or impairment, and over half of households have a connection to someone with a disability.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company managing director, said: “Making the Westgate as accessible as possible for everyone is an important issue and we one we’re passionate about. We have invested in making our buses as user friendly as possible to help make travel to the city centre more inclusive and accessible for everyone. This has included creating more space for wheelchairs, with separate dedicated wheelchair and buggy spaces on each bus.”

The centre celebrated its first anniversary on October 24 after attracting 19 million visitors.