GAZETTE & HERALD: TRIPLE stroke victim Graham Coe has challenged Chippenham town councillors to travel around the shops in a wheelchair to see the difficulties disabled people have to cope with.

Mr Coe, 48, of Downing Street, Chippenham had three stokes in 1998, which left him disabled and reliant on a motorised buggy.

He is frustrated with the obstacles he has to face in the town centre and wants to put councillors to the test.

"I feel so strongly that disabled people get the raw end of the deal," Mr Coe said.

"I would like someone from the council to get out in a wheelchair and come round with us to see how difficult it is to go shopping. I think they would be shocked.

"There's a lack of respect for disabled people. The majority of people don't even open doors for me.

"They expect disabled people to make a mess of everything they do and they talk to your carer instead of you. It's so frustrating.

"People just don't realise how hard life is when you're in a wheelchair."

He added: "Sometimes I can't even get in a shop because the racks are so close to the doors or there are steps.

"When I do get in, I get very angry because I knock things off the shelves when I go round aisles, they're too thin and they leave things on the end of shelves, which get in the way.

"To get disabled access into shops all they need is to supply a ramp."

Some of the outlets that Mr Coe can't enter with his wheelchair or where he has difficulties manoeuvring include:

l West Cornwall Pastie Shop in the High Street "The shop is a real pain. Once I'm in I've got to reverse out because it's so small. If people come in behind me there's not enough room," he said.

l Curry's, High Street, is one of the shops that Mr Coe can't even get into. "There are steps into the doorway. I would really like to go in there because they do special offers on the electrical equipment. Why should I not have special offers because I'm disabled?" he said.

l 3D Computers in New Road has steps into the premises and Mr Coe finds it hard to get in there. He said: "As well as steps, the building is on a slope so I can't park my buggy anywhere. It's not easy to get out of my buggy and walk up the steps when you've had a stroke."

l Blockbusters, Hathaway Retail Park Mr Coe said when people park close to the kerb at Blockbuster their car overhangs it and there's not enough room on the pavement for his buggy so he has to take the long way round to get to the door.

Mr Coe said: "The council and shopkeepers don't think of things like people having to get around in vehicles.

"You have to get to the shops early otherwise there are too many people around. It's even worse when the children are on holiday. We've got to watch out for people all the time.

"Most people use shop doorways as a gathering point and some people look at you like you shouldn't even be there, like what right have you got to go shopping?"

Mr Coe wants to see someone from the council helping with arrangements for disabled people. He said: "It's their town, they should take an interest, and they don't 100 per cent.

"When I could get around, going on buses, trains or aeroplanes was second nature," he said. "But now I have to make sure for a simple journey I ring 24 hours in advance to make sure there's assistance to help me. I won't give in to it."

Chippenham town councillor Nina Phillips said: "The county council are doing everything they can. Any new buildings must be disabled-friendly.

"I certainly think something should be done. There ought to be more drop curbs for people who are in wheelchairs or who have prams."