GUILDHALL bosses have vowed to rise to the challenge of improving the facility's disabled access after a report found a whole series of problems in the building.

As reported by the News, an access audit was carried out in May by Elizabeth Meadows, a member of the National Register of Access Consultants.

The report, commissioned by the Chard Disability Action Group, has now been made public and reveals a host of shortcomings in most areas of the building.

Not just checking for wheelchair access, the inspection looked to see how easy the building was to use by people with limited dexterity, as well as impaired hearing and vision.

Among the problems are lack of wheelchair access to the stage and green rooms, general lack of 'tonal contrast' to make it easier for visually impaired people to distinguish edges and boundaries, improvements to signing, and a mobile hearing induction loop.

This week, Chard Guildhall manager John Evans said he welcomed the report and aimed to take a series of proposals to the next meeting of the town council's Guildhall and Tourism committee in September.

"It's great to have the report done and I'd like to express my thanks to Chard Disability Action Group.

"Now it's all about the will to make it happen and I'm really up for it and I can't wait to get going.

"There's a lot to do and work is already underway behind the scenes."