BATHURST'S new $5 million rail museum has drawn the ire of a local access advocate over the lack of a footpath leading to the facility.
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The museum was officially opened at a gala event on February 21, telling the story of Bathurst's rail history.
And while there is a sealed footpath leading to the museum's front door from two disabled car parking spaces on Havannah Street, if those space are taken there is no other access to the footpath for people in wheelchairs.
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Access advocate Bob Triming said Bathurst Regional Council had been made aware of the problem last year while he was still Bathurst Access Committee chairman and had been given time to resolve it.
"The latest advice I've had from council is that it will be done some time in the future," Mr Triming said.
"It's disappointing. We have a library in Bathurst with the world's smallest disabled toilet and not even I can get in the disabled toilet at the National Motor Racing Museum and now this. Why are we still fighting this?"
Mr Triming said he understood there was good access inside the museum but he would not be entering the facility "out of principle" until a footpath had been installed.
The latest advice I've had from council is that it will be done some time in the future.
- Access advocate Bob Triming
But cultural and community services director Alan Cattermole denied there was inadequate access.
He said a footpath had been included throughout planning for the museum but had not yet been delivered.
"The delivery of the footpath was always included in the budget and works. It has been scheduled after the main construction work completed," Mr Cattermole said.
"The accessible parking area has been completed, the footpath in front of the new angled parking has been completed, and it is noted there is a footpath on the other side of Havannah Street which does connect with Keppel Street."
Mr Cattermole said the museum's accessible features included electric doors at the entrance, a lowered height for the model train layout, building the museum on one level and a ramp in the model train room for better viewing opportunities.
Mayor Bobby Bourke agreed the missing footpath was an issue that needed to be addressed.
"We have a footpath program so it's a matter of looking at what else is on the list and working out a suitable timeframe," he said.
