A Wiltshire music lover has launched a campaign to ensure the county’s venues are fully accessible after “soul destroying” experiences.
Neil Gumm is a committee member for Starry Eyes, a community music group based in the Trowbridge area that puts on open mic nights for members hoping to take their talents to the next level.
The 54-year-old wheelchair user says he has often been left frustrated by venues around Trowbridge and Westbury which are not fully accessible for disabled people, leaving him unable to attend the group’s gigs.
Neil said that these incidents have left him feeling isolated from the music community.
Neil Gumm with his new ramp at The Twelve Bells in Trowbridge (Image: Trevor Porter)
He said: “I really love listening to music but there are venues in Trowbridge that I can’t access because I’m in a wheelchair.
“I feel all venues should be accessible to everyone in this day and age so it’s very frustrating.
“It’s quite soul-destroying when you can’t enter somewhere, especially if you have a passion for music, because you feel cut off from the outside world.
“The gigs are so important to me, we’ve got a lot of talent about and when you can’t hear it you feel cut off from the community.”
After Neil was unable to gain access to multiple venues, he started constructing his own ramps using Buffalo Board and giving them to venues so he and others could enter safely.
So far Players in Westbury and The Twelve Bells pub in Trowbridge have taken Neil up on his offer, with the Twelve Bells funding the construction of their ramp.
“I just came home and made a ramp off my own back, and it worked a treat”, said Neil.
“Now everyone in a wheelchair can go and access those places, but it could help absolutely anybody.
“It might be someone who uses a walking frame, or it could be used by people in their 90s to someone in their teens.
“That’s a big achievement, if I can leave this life knowing I’ve made a difference to other disabled people that will make my life complete.”
Sally Boyle who runs Starry Eyes in Trowbridge (Image: Trevor Porter)
But Neil has no plans to stop yet and hopes to make as many venues around Trowbridge as possible 100 per cent accessible.
He added: “My aim is to make it possible for me to go wherever I want to.
“I’m a very strong-willed person and I think I can conquer any problem I put my mind to.”
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