But 1979 was also the year that saw the creation of Wigan Council’s Access Committee, a group of ordinary men and women who for the past 30 years have championed the views of disabled people within the corridors of power.
“The Access Committee aims to improve access to facilities for those with any kind of physical disability,” says Frank Atherton, who was the chair of the organisation back in 1979, and is still actively involved. It’s about encouraging everybody but in particular those who wield the power to take account of the views of disabled people at the planning stage, not simply as an afterthought.”
“Disabled people don’t want special treatment,” says Janet Kenyon, the current chair, who developed multiple sclerosis nearly 30 years ago and is herself a wheelchair user.
“Our greatest challenge lies in balancing the needs of different groups. For instance, whilst dropped kerbs are an advantage to wheelchair users, they can cause a problem for the visually impaired who often use the kerbs to navigate.
“So we pushed for the council to introduce more tactile pavements across the borough.”
Asked how life has changed in the past 30 years, the committee’s secretary Joe Healen points to a small but valued initiative.
“If you walk around Wigan town centre, you will notice that the bollards have white bands around them,” he said.
“They were a hazard to the visually impaired who kept walking into them – hurting more than just their pride!
“But the white bands made them stand out. It’s the small things that really make a difference.”
You can contact the Access Committee on 01257 421317 or email Wigan Area-Access
