AN action group is aiming to remove unnecessary pavement barriers in a bid to increase accessibility in the city.

The recently formed Salisbury City Council Accessibility and Inclusion Task Group (AITG) is targeting barriers that obstruct paths.

These barriers can make life difficult for wheelchair users and people with other disability equipment, as well as parents with double buggies.

The group aims to have the barriers removed altogether or altered so that everyone can get through if they are deemed necessary for safety reasons.

Councillor Lynne Blackwood, who is chairing the group, has pushed the new initiative which asks each individual councillor to submit a list of problem barriers.

This list will then be submitted to Wiltshire Council for consideration, with a request for action as and when finances allow.

However, underpass barriers are the responsibility of National Highways and the SCC Underpasses Working Group plans to tackle these separately.

Cllr Blackwood has severe mobility problems and uses an electric wheelchair to travel.

When travelling through the St Paul's Roundabout underpass, she encountered a troublesome barrier which was "really difficult" to manoeuvre around.

Cllr Blackwood said: "When the barriers were first installed they did not count for things like mobility scooters or double buggies so they are very outdated."

The original purpose of the barriers was to stop speeding bikes, skateboards and other "anti-social behaviour on wheels".

While the AITG accepts this, it proposes the necessary barriers are improved to allow enough room for people with mobility issues to pass.

According to Cllr Blackwood, the reason the barrier issue has not been addressed previously is that "no one has really thought about it".

"I was quite shocked we're 25 years behind in awareness and accessibility of inclusion in Salisbury," Cllr Blackwood added.

The action comes alongside Councillor Equality, Diversity & Inclusion [EDI] training sessions which will be hosted by the AITG.

Ultimately the goal is to make the city council more inclusive and address residents' issues.

The next session will be held in the Guildhall at 5.30pm on May 25.

To report a barrier in your area, contact your local Salisbury city councillor or email Cllr Blackwood directly at lblackwood@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.