We know how reluctant hotels are to install hoists in their accessible rooms. However, there is a hotel in the heart of Shakespeare country that is interested and we are looking for a commericial (or private) sponsor to part fund the hoist installation to get this off the ground...(no pun intended!). It is all subject to survey to ensure the room is physically suitable and we are looking for £1500-£2000 to go ahead with this project. For any commercial sponsors you would get some publicity on CHuC and through the disability media and would prove you take your corporate social responsibity seriously. Go on - you know it makes sense....

We would also be happy to look at any other offers for different parts of the country. We have proved that trials like these are successful and lead to more hoists being installed once the hotel sees the commercial potential. For such a small amount you can make such a difference!

A couple in Llanfair near Lampeter in Wales are trying to get planning permission to construct 4 log cabins on their 10 acre property. The 2 bedroom cabins will have full ceiling track hoists from the bedroom to the bathroom and will be offered as self catering holiday accommodation. Their initial planning application is going to be turned down as the authorities are saying there is no evidence that accommodation of this sort is needed!

As part of the information pack supplied to the planning authority were over 35 e-mails from Tourist Information Centres around the UK stating that they could not find accommodation for 3 people with severe mobility difficulties to go on holiday together.

If you would welcome such a property as an addition to the small but growing portfolio of accessible properties with ceiling track hoists in the UK please contact the owner (Lin Plevy) and offer your support. This is a project which should not be defeated by beauracratic planning authorities who have no idea of the needs of disabled people.

We are still looking for information on any type of accommodation with a ceiling track hoist. This should preferably be a hoist above the bed for transfer from chair to bed and vice versa and also a continuous track into the bathroom or at least a separate tracking hoist in the bathroom. We will also list those with a ceiling hoist in the bedroom and a roll-in shower.

There must be more places out there that we are not aware of! I would especially like to find more places throughout Europe and the rest of the world.  Please, please, please let us know so we can share it with the disabled community throughout the world. Just reply to this message or send me an e-mail.

Steve Catlin (CHuC Webmaster) admin@CHuC.org.uk