Report this comment
  • "
    sparkyclarke wrote:
    You obviously lack many attributes within your grasp of common sense situations. I am very much in favour of disabled people being treated fairly in a every area. Unfortunatley you need to see sense when this company has put health and safety policies in place to protect everyone from injury. If the games they play were not approved as being safe by the relevant authorities then they surely would not be played. You are again missing the point. A dangerous object such a a wheelchair has no safe place on a busy skating rink, so go along when the times are right for your particular requirements. Many skating rinks offer closed sessions for wheelchairs and I am sure that Rollacity is no different, it clearly states in the article that they have had discussions with disabled groups around Essex to arrange these sessions. Why dont you comment on the facts printed rather than changing them to suit your own ends.
    I think one needs to get their facts straight:

    1. James or any other disabled person has not been offered any chance at all of going onto the rink at present. They have only thought up a quick fix after they have been contacted by the Echo for this report.

    May I also add nobody is changing anything at all, a fact of life is that health and safety only are put in place after an accident happens ie referring to my comment about their ''limbo'' activity."
  • This field is mandatory
  • This field is mandatory
  • Please note we will not accept reports with HTML tags or URLs in them.


  • Enter the above word in the box below

Please be fair, courteous and respectful to the views of others so we can build a vibrant community in a safe online environment. You are personal liable for your comments and action will be taken against anyone who offends, ridicules or posts malicious and damaging views. If you wish to complain, please contact us.

No skate party for for disabled James

James Ireland was told he wasn’t allowed to use Rollacity skate rink James Ireland was told he wasn’t allowed to use Rollacity skate rink

AN award-winning wheelchair dancer was stopped from taking part in his sister’s birthday celebrations at a roller rink due to health and safety concerns.

James Ireland, 20, of Broomfield Avenue, Leigh, visited Rollacity last Saturday with his family and friends to celebrate Chantelle’s tenth birthday.

He is paralysed from the waist down after being born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, but has gone on to win a host of international wheelchair dance competitions, and even featured on Blue Peter.

Health and safety regulations state that wheelchair users are only allowed on skating rinks during closed sessions However, the Ireland family claim they were originally refused entry by a cashier who claimed the wheelchair would mark the floor. James said: “I’m just confused about the whole situation. What really is their problem?

“The floor is the same as we use for dancing so I’m used to it – and if my wheelchair would damage it, then so would the skates!

“I have never experienced anything like this before so I don’t understand how it is a safety issue.”

Mum Mary, 44, did her best to not let the incident ruin Chantelle’s birthday and the group had fun while James watched from the sidelines.

She said: “I have always taken going out for granted.

I thought in this day and age everyone was equal.

“They said if he wanted to join in, they could let him have a go on his own – but it would have to be on a school night.

“It was her birthday on Saturday so what use would that be?

“I am just absolutely fuming about the whole situation. What’s the point in having a disabled toilet?

“I just feel like James has been really discriminated against.”

Clive Meech, owner of Rollacity on Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, has been in touch with disability groups around Essex to arrange sessions dedicated to wheelchair users.

He said: “It’s not discrimination, it is health and safety.

“If you have 100 people skating round our rink, we can’t then put a wheelchair-user on there in case someone falls over and bangs their head on the wheelchair. “It could become dangerous for everyone involved.”

Local Businesses

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree