Work to improve accessibility in Wells is continuing through a partnership between Accessible Wells, Wells City Council and Somerset Council.

The three organisations said they have been working together to identify barriers across the city, agree priorities and deliver practical improvements aimed at making Wells more inclusive for residents and visitors.

Recent work has focused on reviewing key parts of the city and identifying accessibility challenges. According to the update, that has included improvements to pathways, signage, traffic lights and public spaces, as well as ongoing discussions to make sure accessibility is considered in future planning and development.

The update also says the councils have reviewed their own practices. Meetings of Wells City Council and Somerset's Local Community Network are now being held in locations that are easier to access, something the statement says was not consistently the case 18 months ago.

Accessible Wells was credited with helping represent the views of residents and visitors with lived experience, while Wells City Council has supported local coordination and Somerset Council has provided input through its highways and street scene functions.

Cllr Theo Butt Philip, of Somerset Council and Wells City Council, said the work carried out so far would help inform future policy and operational delivery.

He said: "It just goes to show that heritage and adjustment can work sympathetically together if managed correctly."

Cllr Shirley Eden, of Wells City Council, said progress had been made by working together in a practical way and thanked people in Wells with physical accessibility issues for helping move the work forward.

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Theo Van Hensbergen, of Accessible Wells, said the city was beginning to take steps to become more inclusive for people with physical accessibility issues and visual impairments. He added that while more could still be done, understanding of what needed to change had improved.

The organisations said the work would continue as part of a wider effort to make Wells more accessible while respecting its historic character.

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