Members of City of York Council's Disabled Person's Advisory Group (DPAG) have been offering their opinions on how to improve access to one of the city's major shopping centres.

The group was invited to look at plans for improvements for disabled access at Monks Cross Shoping Centre, which is undertaking a full audit of its facilities. Members were taken on a tour of the site before making suggestions on possible improvements.

Several ideas were discussed including making more noticeable and easy to read signs, lowering pay phones and making them useable for people with hearing impairments, creating dropped kerbs and enforcing the use of disabled parking.

Richard Hales, member of DPAG, said: "It is really useful to be able to discuss the access plans at this stage rather than when it is too late. The day was very constructive for everyone involved. It was good for us to have an input into this."

Katherine Hague, centre manager, Monks Cross, said: "We were really pleased to meet with the Disabled Person's Advisory Group and review our plans to make access improvements. The comments have been very useful and constructive and we hope to work with the group again in the future."

The group's comments will be used to plan future improvements.