A Bakers Hill resident who has been in a wheelchair her whole life has hit out at the Shire of Northam for their community bus service that does not include wheelchair access.
Lisa Wiltshire has lived in Bakers Hill for 15-years and said initially the idea of the community bus sat well with her.
”I don’t drive and my husband has to drive me everywhere,” she said.
“I love the idea in theory.
“I think it is great because I’ve got to go to the hospital twice a week every week so it could be perfect for me.
“I respect that it is a trial but how are they going to know who needs it most if it isn’t for everybody?”
The Shire of Northam is operating the community transport trial from Wundowie to Northam, via Bakers Hill and Clackline on Tuesday's and Thursday's from November 20.
The trial is being supported by the Department of Communities and will run to around March 2019.
The Shire of Northam said the service is designed for people who do not have access to their own transport and who require services provided in Northam that are not available in these communities.
On the Shire of Northam website it outlined that the community bus is not equipped with wheelchair access and passengers who require assistance with mobility must travel with a carer.
Mrs Wiltshire said the pick up locations from the outlying towns was not well thought through.
”Pick up in Bakers Hill is from Hooper Park,” she said.
“It’s a 5km drive from my house and it isn’t accessible.
“The whole thing is flawed completely.
“There’s several estates in Bakers Hill but they need at least one in every estate and it needs to be wheelchair accessible.”
Mrs Whiltshire said she has faced other accessibility problems during her 15-years living in the town.
“I can’t get into the post office,” she said.
“I can get into the pie shop now, I can get into the chemist and into the school.
“A lot of people can’t see the bigger issue.
“Spend a day in my shoes.
“I’ve lived like this for 50 years and it’s not fun.”
The Shire of Northam was contacted for comment but did not reply.
For more information on the community bus see HERE.