A NATIONAL charity has promised to meet a disabled pensioner who has complained about his difficulties getting on to the canal wharf at Bradford on Avon, fearing he could have an accident if nothing is done.

Vincent Miles is hoping they can make it easier for him to get to the Upper Wharf area from the car park at the end of Baileys Barn.

Mr Miles, 87, of Elms Cross Drive, has difficulty manoeuvring his mobility scooter through and around the two barriers along the pathway from the car park to Upper Wharf.

He said: “Whilst the bottom barrier is OK, the top barrier posts are far too close and the steep banks on either side also create a problem.

“On several occasions this has become dangerous and almost resulted in an accident.

“I am unable to pass on one side because the bank is too steep and on the other the surface is too uneven to negotiate safely.”

Mark Evans, of the Canal & River Trust, said: “As the footpath from the car park to the canal is quite wide the Canal & River Trust installed barriers to stop vehicles from driving down this footpath and along the towpath.

“We want to ensure that visitors and local residents have easy access to our waterways as recent research show that being by the water is good for your mental and physical health.

“We weren’t aware that Mr Miles was having problems using this access point with his mobility scooter and will happily get in touch and arrange to meet him on site to see what improvements can be made.”

Mr Miles, a retired building surveyor, had contacted to the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and Bradford on Avon Town Council about his access difficulties.

The car park is privately managed by London-based CP Plus Ltd for the Canal & River Trust, which is responsible for the pathway to Upper Wharf.