Wheelchair user hails gallery scheme (From Herald Series)

Wheelchair user hails gallery scheme

6:00pm Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News

WANTAGE’S historic Victoria Cross Gallery may be converted into shops or restaurants.

The scheme would close the public passage from the Market Place to Church Street, meaning the owner would be obliged to provide disabled access from the Market Square.

Wheelchair user Ann Rowe, who hasn’t been in the gallery for five years, said: “This is very overdue, but it would be a small victory.

“I kicked up a fuss about this issue a few years ago with the town council, who said it was the responsibility of the shops.”

The new plans show the gallery’s ground floor, including the back of Greggs, becoming one large retail area, with an equal-size single retail area on the floor above.

They also include changing disused office space on the first and second floors into five flats, one two-bedroom and four one-bedroom.

The latest business to move into the gallery – the Creative Cookshop – is about to move out after two years because, the owners say, no one can see them. Theresa Elgar and Geoff Peck are moving their business to a previously empty shop in Mill Street.

Wantage Town Council has no objection to the plans.