Demand is for a hearing loop

Sandy Town councillor Ken Lynch said that he has been let down by Sandy Town Council after he informed council staff he was losing his hearing a year ago.

He said: “I should have been entitled to the loop system.

“It’s impossible at the council meetings now for me to hear anything that’s going on. I feel I’m being prevented from going to town council meetings.”

The issue was discussed by the council in December but there has been no change, although the council says it is investigating improvements.

Mr Lynch, 75, wants to see a hearing loop system and a better room layout and suggests that the council could follow Biggleswade Town Council’s lead and have microphones installed.

Madeline Cochrane, who wears high quality hearing aids, added her voice. She said: “A long time ago, when they were looking into the town plan, I actually joined the group. I couldn’t hear a thing people were saying around the table in that big chamber.

“I would go to more meetings but I can’t hear a single thing.

“The issue is you can’t join in anything. I’ve never understood why they’ve allowed it to go on.”

Delia Shephard, town clerk, said: “As the council is planning to move it may not be cost effective to install a hearing loop at 10 Cambridge Road at this stage so we are currently investigating whether there are any other short term measures which would improve audibility during the interim period until the move.

“As regards the new building, we believe that the acoustics will generally be better than the present chamber and we plan to make provision for a hearing loop as appropriate in due course.”

In the meantime temporary venues are being considered.

Mr Lynch, whose ear drum was perforated as a child when his street was bombed in the war, added: “I will still do my job as a town councillor and I will email the information to the town clerk.”

Do you have problems hearing in the council chamber? Do you think better facilities should be provided to enable equal opportunities? Email [email protected]