Leaping Frog Shopping Centre reopened last year following a major redevelopment, promising a refreshed experience and improved facilities.
But for Chartwell resident Tanya Ritchie, the much-publicised upgrade has been a bitter disappointment.

Ritchie, who regularly visits the centre with her elderly mother in a wheelchair, said accessibility remained a serious challenge.

Read more: Resident voices concern over disabled accessibility at Leaping Frog Shopping Centre

“The newly built shopping centre fails to provide adequate facilities for disabled individuals, ” she claimed. “There are no ramps at the entrances, making access extremely difficult for wheelchair users. While there are designated disabled parking spaces, they are far too narrow to be of any practical use. Some shops are completely inaccessible, highlighting a serious lack of planning and consideration.”

Recounting a recent visit, Ritchie said the obstacles began almost immediately. “We came here specifically for dinner. I wanted to show my mother the new centre, but when we reached the dining area, we were met by very steep stairs. We tried going around through the car park, but then there was a steep curb to the road. Even the traffic-calming squares were impossible to get a wheelchair over.”

After struggling to find a way through, she called centre management for assistance. A staff member helped manoeuvre her mother’s wheelchair over difficult pavements and steep curbs, but the effort eventually proved too much.

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“By the time we got near Pep Home, I gave up. There were more stairs ahead, and I didn’t want to push my mother through the car park again. I went to fetch my car and parked in a disabled spot, which turned out to be way too narrow. We could barely open the doors, and then a dustbin was blocking the pavement. We had to physically lift my mother into the car. It was exhausting and humiliating.

“Once someone is in a wheelchair, they’re invisible. The architects gave zero thought to people with pushchairs, trolleys, or wheelchairs. For all the talk of a renovation to ‘accommodate everyone,’ it simply doesn’t.”

In response to the complaints, Jacques Erasmus, the head of projects at Abcon Developments, the company behind the redevelopment, acknowledged the challenges.

“Since completion of the redevelopment, we identified challenges around pedestrian movement and accessibility for people with disabilities. While these needs were considered throughout the design, the existing structure and varying levels of the centre presented significant constraints.”

Erasmus added that the centre remained committed to progressive improvements. “We continue to monitor accessibility closely and remain committed to ongoing upgrades. A direct line of communication has now been established through centre management to ensure concerns are acknowledged and actioned promptly.”

Actions taken to date and since the completion of the redevelopment:

• Ramps have been installed and upgraded at key access points, with further adjustments planned.
• Disabled parking bays have been widened and introduced across multiple zones.
• Alternative routes have been signposted where staircases restrict access.
• All upgrades are aligned with national accessibility standards.

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