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05.09.2024, 22:57 Ready for C2 Proficiency Student's Book Classroom Presentation

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M: I’m so sorry to hear that. We’ve got a transport, municipal buildings, hospitality achievements of disabled hikers in places
complaints form if you’d like to… and tourism. These sectors have been with proper access. It’s about getting
everyone on board to change the mindset
making great strides in accessibility either
W: When I spoke to you before, you advised
due to legal obligations or for commercial of wider society.
me to fill out a complaint form, which I
reasons. It sends a positive message
did and I’ve heard zero back. I want some I: Yes, I see how they could be really
about inclusivity that is absent in our
action here! Look at the place… it’s littered meaningful to a lot of people. How have
national parks.
with rubbish and it’s all from your groups the parks service employees reacted to
here. I don’t mind you putting things on for I: Nadiya, how would you respond to that? these workshops?
the most vulnerable, but they shouldn’t be
N: The National Parks Service is fully N: Very enthusiastically in all the parks we’ve
lurking around outside at all hours. One
committed to improving accessibility and tried them in. Working with Alex on this
of them even went off at an old man last is working hard to implement positive has not only been really enlightening
week, I saw it for myself. No, it’s not on
changes in this area as soon as possible. but also given us a fresh perspective
at all.
We understand full well that disabled on why it’s needed. Actually, among the
national parks and other organisations
M: Ah yes, I remember your form now. I’ve people have as much right as everyone
taken it to the manager, and she should be else and are just as keen to get out and that manage outdoor spaces, there are
in touch with you about it. I’m sorry I can’t about in our beautiful natural spaces. plenty of initiatives being thought up, but
help more. In recent years complaints have been the key thing is that we have to actually go
through with them and not just pay them
mounting up from groups such as yours,
W: Well, I should hope so too. And I’m not the
Alex, and after a lot of consultation with lip service. Unfortunately, some of these
only one… I’m sticking up for the whole
charities, local government and health plans can lay idle on someone’s desk,
community here. Everyone has had it up
experts, I believe we’ve now got a solid gathering dust while other things take
to here.
and workable proposal finalised which priority.
Extract three
will improve access for wheelchair users,
I: Ah, right. And do you have any way of
I: Matt Reid, thank you for joining us today.
as well as for people with other health
addressing this?
So, for any budding transport planners
conditions or impairments.
N: We’re trying to make Alex and groups
out there, can you give us what you
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A: It’s good to finally get this plan agreed,
like hers more of an integral part of what
consider the most important factors when
but it is a shame that it takes so much
we do.
planning routes?
effort to move things in the right direction.
A: And we are delighted to bring a raft of
M: Good question. The paramount factor
Community action groups like mine have
experience to the table.
has to be safety, and planners like me
to constantly pile on the pressure and
have to anticipate any potential hazards –
keep at it in order for change, however 0.1
these could be blind spots, bottlenecks
frustrating the process can be.
et cetera.. But after that, I suppose it’s
N = Newsreader W = Woman
N: I appreciate your frustration Alex, but we
thinking about all the road users – not just
M = Man I = Interviewer
are making progress. We’ve come a long
car drivers… because people aren’t very
Mi = Minister
way in the last decade, and I agree that
sympathetic towards a new route when
Extract 1
we mustn’t let up now. One of the largest
it’s more inconvenient. And no detail is
obstacles that I think the National Parks N: The city centre is seeing its fifth day of
too small when it comes to factoring in
Service faces is a lack of funding both
gridlocked traffic thanks to the closure
problems. Take for example the bridge
government and private. What we’re trying
of the south side of the inner ring road.
that was added near the town hall. Lorry https://english0905.com/private/
to do with our latest funding applications
The road is closed to allow repairs to the
drivers were, understandably, up in arms
is highlight the benefits of spending tarmac to take place. However, residents
about it because, well, while height was
time in nature and make it clear that the only learned about this closure through
considered, the tunnel underneath couldn’t
National Parks Service has a responsibility
social media posts of photos as the cones
fit wide loads.
to provide access for all citizens. That’s were put in place to block off entrance
I: That must be rather tricky!
why we’re now consulting people like Alex
and exit points to the road. The council
M: Not really, nowadays we can model
to help us present our case. had said that the roadworks were due to
these kinds of things, which really takes
I: And do you think that this is a good take place towards the beginning of last
the headache out of working out any
month, and duly notified city residents,
approach Alex?
unintended problems before they happen.
but due to issues with materials, this
A: We have been trying to get more involved
The real uphill battle can be working with
had to be delayed. No further updates
for some years now, so yes. However,
multiple stakeholders who all tend to have
were issued however. Local residents,
there is not much that we can do when it
their own agenda… and these don’t always
hauliers and taxi drivers are only some
comes to attracting investment. We can
meet in the middle. Fortunately, this has
of the groups to have severely criticised
definitely continue to make the case for
never resorted to full-blown arguments, but
what they consider to be the council’s
the health benefits though.
it hasn’t always been pleasant!
ineptitude, inundating their offices with
I: Is this a fair assessment of the situation in
calls of complaint. In a statement to us this
12.1 your view Nadiya?
afternoon, the council, while explaining
N: In my view, yes, it is. We see the role
I = Interviewer A = Alex
the necessity of the works, remains
of community action groups as more
N = Nadiya defiant in the face of the complaints of
connected with campaigning and
citizens. A response which will almost
I: Today we’re discussing access to
raising awareness among the disabled
certainly leave citizens wanting further
hiking trails in our outdoor spaces and
community. Their data gathering is also a
answers.
specifically national parks. With me are
valuable support.
Alex Rogers from local community action Extract 2
A : We focus on encouraging participation;
group, Access All Areas, who advocate
W: Did you see the news last night? They had
you know, taking groups of wheelchair
for improved access for people with
scenes from all over the US – it appears
users on a hike to give them the
disabilities, and Nadiya Thompson from
that the cold snap has really hit them hard.
confidence they need to open their eyes
the National Parks Service. Alex, let’s start
M: It’s incredible really, how the infrastructure
to the possibilities. We want to urge them
with you. Could you give us an outline
there just isn’t prepared for extreme
on to be more adventurous and challenge
of what the key issues are for disabled
weather. Especially as blistering cold
themselves through outdoor activities
people in this particular context.
weather isn’t really anything new for them.
like hiking. More than just inspirational,
A: Sure. Our countryside is criss-crossed by
their lived experiences can be very W: Well actually, I read that apparently these
a network of fantastic walking and hiking
acute cold weather events are getting
powerful at persuading people of the
trails, many of which can be found in
fewer and further between, so maybe
need to upgrade paths and trails so that
national parks, and yet the vast majority
they are wheelchair-friendly and cater that’s why it’s caused so much havoc.
of them are completely inaccessible
I mean, why plan for the unexpected?
for people with other disabilities, such as
to those people living with disabilities.
prosthetic limbs. We have started running It’s really the animals I feel sorry for rather
This is in contrast to many urban settings
than us humans…
works hops for the national parks service
where provision is quickly becoming more
employees so they can learn about the
widespread. I mean just think about public
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