Mums with pushchairs and wheelchair users are delighted with the new lift at Headington Library after years of campaigning.

The lift was installed at the library in Bury Knowle Park in September.

Now, Oxfordshire county councillor for Headington Roz Smith said she is determined to get more disabled parking spaces there to match.

Mrs Smith, who lives in Weyland Road, Headington, said: “Trying to get my granddaughter up the steps in a pushchair used to be a nightmare.

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“Having the lift there is amazing.

“We have been campaigning about this for years. We sent more than 80 emails to various people to get it done.

“It has been a long struggle.”

She said the campaign had come up against a hurdle when Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the library, had to get government permission.

Bury Knowle House was built for goldsmith and banker Joseph Lock, later Lord Mayor of Oxford, in about 1800.

As it is a listed building, the lift scheme had to get special dispensation from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Mrs Smith said the extension housing the lift was initially rendered in the wrong colour, so had to be repainted.

She said: “Finally, disabled people can use the library without relying on friends to go for them.

“The next thing to sort out now is disabled parking.

“There are two spaces at the moment, but they are more for people going to the park.”

She said she would be asking Oxford City Council, which owns Bury Knowle House, to look into the possibility of creating more spaces.

The county council, which leases the ground floor to run the library, also revamped the children’s area over the summer.

Mrs Smith added: “It looks great. It’s much easier to move around now.”


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