WHEELCHAIR facilities at the newly refurbished Guildhall are being eagerly anticipated by Wycombe Area's Access For All (WAAFA).

After months of consultation between the charity, which campaigns for adequate access across the Wycombe area, and conservation officers at Wycombe District Council, the first floor will cater for disabled people for the first time in its history.

"It's wonderful that in such an important community building those of limited mobility are not excluded in any way," said Alison Lewis from WAAFA.

"It was quite a task considering the Guildhall is a listed building but thanks to the tremendous commitment by the council it is finally ready."

The new facilities are just in time for the the charity's tenth birthday later this year.

Mrs Lewis said: "It serves as a great example to all establishments in the area. It is a great time for us at the moment with many projects underway addressing the issues surrounding access."

The Guildhall opens to the disabled on Monday.

Alan Switalski, access officer for WDC, said: "It is fantastic. Ideally I would like to see all of our buildings fitted especially considering that 90 per cent of disabled people have never been up to that part of the Guildhall. Like everything else it all goes down to funding."