A unique course to thwart concerns about the rise of dangerous mobility scooter use in Hailsham has answered crime and disorder fears.

A drop-in session for worried residents last year uncovered the unruly use of mobility vehicles on Hailsham’s pavements and in shops as a serious concern.

Fears that an accident would be caused were answered by the Scooterbility course, set up by Councillor Laura Murphy to tackle the problem and give scooter users advice and confidence.

Six months on, her work with A J Mobility, the Safer Wealden Partnership, the Police and businesses, has seen more than 50 riders taking advice on how to use their scooters carefully and legally.

Cllr. Murphy said, “Accidents were a main cause for concern. You see people on mobility vehicles approaching the crossing without slowing down and areas where toddlers are around are a real hazard as they run out in front of these things.

“The scooters are so quiet that people often don’t know they are approaching and it’s easy for accidents to happen. We need riders to be aware of this.”

No licence is needed for such a scooter but the course fills a gap in the market, answers questions and sets a standard. It also shows drivers how to combat hazards and obstacles such as high pavements and potentially difficult situations.

Rachel Phippard, 17, on work experience at the Gazette, took to a scooter for a trial. A quick lesson was all she needed to get going, but a near crash soon followed in the busy shopping area near the War Memorial. Packed pavements proved difficult to manoeuvre the scooter around. Shoppers emerging from doorways were a clear hazard.

She said, “There were many obstacles - mainly people. I could see accidents could happen and how manoeuvring the scooter may be difficult at all times.”

Bryan Budgen of A J Mobility was on hand to offer assistance. High kerbs were a stumbling block.

He helps runs courses and said, “We have to raise things with people, like the fact you can actually get done for drink driving on one of these vehicles. With a class three vehicle you can go eight miles an hour, when the speed limit on the pavement is four, so you could feasibly get booked for that too.

“It is about helping people use these vehicles responsibly, but there is no actual body to do that once these vehicles have been bought.”

Cllr. Murphy said, “Part of the course is the police coming to tell people the sort of accidents that have occurred. There’s one report of a woman of 98 being knocked down by a woman of 89 driving a scooter. There’s a real concern: people come out of shops or junctions and go straight out into the road. People don’t realise how dangerous that can be to the rider, pedestrians and vehicles.

“I really think it has made a difference in Hailsham. This is the only course like this in the south.

“It really could make a difference in so many towns.”

The course has now been running for six months and more than 50 people from the Hailsham area have been put through their paces on an obstacle course. They have been visited by a police representative, swapped stories with other users and had the legal speed limit of four miles an hour drummed into them.

Scooterbility was funded by the Safer Wealden Partnership and the last two hour course, with a maximum of 15 participants, is being held at Hailsham Community Centre on July 24.

While there is not currently further funding for the course to continue in Hailsham, organisations from other areas have shown an interest in reproducing the course.

More information on how to book a place on the last course is available from Andy Roe at A J  Mobility on 847250 ext 213.

Eastbourne Gazette 19th July, 2006