Anne Marie Morris has been involved with the Shopmobility Centre in Newton Abbot since she was selected as the Newton Abbot Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
The centre has provided electric wheelchair and scooter hire for disabled shoppers in the town centre for over a decade now and has over 600 customers on their books. Funding for the centre had previously been a grant from the National Lottery. Since the lottery grant ended, Shopmobility has merged with Newton Abbot Community Transport bringing together two vital resources for the disabled shoppers and enabling both groups to join forces in seeking funding. While short to medium term funding is now in place, the more important long term funding still needs to be sourced to ensure its long term future.
Anne Marie says:
"Any reduction in the service would be disastrous, not just for the shoppers but for the shopkeepers who depend on their visits".
Anne Marie recently visited the centre with Mark Harper MP, the Shadow Minister for Disabled People.
Mark says: "This vital community scheme provides a lifeline for disabled shoppers who otherwise would be cut off and isolated from local community life". Anne Marie will continue to campaign for the centre to ensure its long term funding and survival.