Shopmobility still open for business

Jul 27 2012 by Anne Dalrymple, Paisley Daily Express

BOSSES at a well-known Paisley charity have hit out at rumours that they have had to axe their services.

For the past 15 years, Shopmobility has been providing wheelchairs and motorised scooters to disabled and infirm people who want to get out and about in the town’s stores.

However, the large number of empty retail units in Paisley has led some people to mistakenly believe that the charity has also closed down.

Tommy Porter, chair of Shopmobility’s Paisley and District branch, said: “Clients have told us that they’d heard rumours we had closed, but we want to let people know that we are still very much open forbusiness.

“I can only think that, because so many Paisley shops have closed, people have put two and two together and come up with five.”

Paisley’s retail scene is enduring tough times as the economic crisis continues to bite, with dozens of town centre shops closing down over the past few years.

However, there are some signs of the green shoots of recovery as the former Littlewoods store has been taken over by a major discount retailer, with the new business set to open soon.

Renfrewshire Council also has a town centre regeneration plan under way.

The Shopmobility service is based at The Paisley Centre car park, in Storie Street, and is open on Mondays to Fridays, from 10am to 4pm, and on Saturdays, from 10am to 3pm.

Motorised scooters and wheelchairs, along with other mobility aids, are available free of charge.

People can also hire special travel scooters that they can take abroad at a cost of £30 a week.