A DISABLED Tadley councillor has said he is appalled that a local museum was not able to provide him with a scooter - even though it has three sitting idle in its stores.

Cllr David Leeks, who has suffered mobility problems since contracting polio as a child, got in touch with Milestones museum, in Churchill Way, by telephone from the town centre last weekend to enquire about the use of a scooter for a visit - but was told none were available.

Mr Leeks, who is also a borough councillor, knew the museum had owned three scooters since Christmas. After challenging staff, he was told the museum was carrying out a health-and-safety assessment of the vehicles to determine whether or not they could be used.

"I am appalled that I had to go to the lengths of traipsing back to Tadley to get my own scooter and a ramp with which to get into the museum when they have three already there," said Cllr Leeks.

"They offered me a wheelchair but that is difficult for me because of the arthritis in my shoulders."

Basingstoke Shop Mobility manager Anne Blackmore also told The Gazette that a number of people have come to them to borrow scooters after being faced with the same difficulty.

Milestone curator Gary Wragg, who was the duty manager when Cllr Leeks contacted the museum, said: "We have had the scooters for some time but when they were first delivered they were running too fast so we had to have the speed reduced.

"Since then we have been addressing the health-and-safety implications, insurance issues and looking at where the scooters can be safely taken.

"The issue is in-hand and we are extremely hopeful that the scooters will be available fairly soon."

He added: "We are doing all we can to offer all our visitors access to the museum."