A MUM is spearheading a campaign to get disabled-friendly play equipment installed in a town’s parks.

Naomi Patterson, of the Save Kingfisher Ward campaign group in Dorchester, says there is no appropriate play facilities to cater for disabled children.

Naomi has a 10-year-old son, George, who is severely disabled after contracting meningitis when he was a baby.

Now, she has taken the fight to Dorchester Town Council which owns and operates 14 play areas within the town, including at Poundbury Crescent, Elizabeth Gardens, Fortress Green and Mellstock Avenue.

The first move has seen her launch a petition last month which has so far gained 79 signatures but she is hoping to raise awareness to boost her campaign.

Naomi said: “My child has always been small enough for me to allow him to join in with his siblings and other children using the park’s equipment like slides, swings, roundabouts, see-saws and so on, whilst being on my lap.

“Unfortunately he’s now a 10-year-old lad who needs hoisting with no upper body control - this is making it difficult for me to be able to hold him on the equipment whilst he plays.”

“I’m asking for the local councils to support this cause so children don’t have to feel isolated in their own communities.”

In response a Dorchester Town Council spokesman, said: “The town council has already provided some equipment suitable for wheelchair users and has also agreed that further investigations should be made into the different types of wheelchair accessible swings.”

The battle comes after Naomi led the fight against Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to maintain 24-hour children’s services at Dorset County Hospital last year. Under the proposals unveiled by Dorset CCG last year, Dorset County Hospital’s overnight children’s services, paediatric and maternity departments could see services shared with Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset.

However, proposals to share overnight children’s and maternity services were dropped in December last year.

Naomi’s petition can be found online at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/update-dorchester-parks-to-accommodate-disabled-children-young-adults-with-additional-needs