As a small gesture of thanks for the co-operation of the Parish of Grouville during the landing of the Normandie 3 cable at Longbeach in 2014, Jersey Electricity teamed up with the Chefs Tenants du Fief de la Reine of Grouville to fund a specially designed beach wheelchair and storage facility at Longbeach for the charity BeachAbility.
The American-built, balloon-wheeled chairs roll over sand, stones and slipways with ease and are available free for anyone who needs help with their mobility by pre-booking with the charity either by phone on 07797 935088 or online.
Chairs and storage units are now available at six sites: Le Braye Cafe, St Ouen, West Park, St Helier, Gunsite Slip, St Aubin Bay, St Brelade’s Bay at Winston Churchill Car Park, Longbeach, Gorey, and La Mare Slip, St Clement.
Jersey Electricity CEO Chris Ambler said: ‘We have been very grateful for the co-operation of the Parish of Grouville, the Chefs Tenants and all local residents during these extensive works and we are delighted to give something back to the parish in some small way.
‘Jersey is blessed with miles of beautiful beaches and they should be accessible to everyone. BeachAbility has done a remarkable job raising funds to facilitate the acquisition and location of so many chairs in a very short time.
Mr Andrew Labey added: ‘The Chefs Tenants are always willing to help fund projects that are of direct benefit to the parish. BeachAbility is doing wonderful work in an area that had been overlooked. While Town, shops and public buildings provide access for people with mobility problems, no one had thought of our beautiful beaches until the charity’s founder Sharon Gray and her former physiotherapist Suzie MacLagan, the charity’s secretary.’
