Concerns have been raised over access to church and public gardens in Caversham.

St Peter’s Church and Caversham Court Gardens are popular with worshippers in the village and visitors drawn to the tranquillity of the Thamesside gardens.

But those with mobility issues have raised issue with difficulties accessing both places at times.

For the church, a neighbour has requested that disabled parking spaces be moved closer to the entrance of the church, and the path itself be flattened so that it is safer for those in wheelchairs and with mobility difficulties.

Meanwhile, part of the lower level of Caversham Court Gardens has been sealed off as work is undertaken on the walls of the gardens as part of a long-term project.

The concerns were raised at Reading Borough Council’s access and disabilities working group, a forum for those with difficulties to raise issues that affect them.

A member of the group asked the council to consider moving the disabled car parking spaces in The Warren closer to the entrance of the church.

Currently, disabled people have to walk down a slope to get to the church and back up it to get to the parking spaces.

The group member said: “Going down a slope is not ideal.”

Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) lead councillor for environmental services and community safety said the council would have to ‘wait and see what the art of the possible’ would be.

She added: “If you can’t get there in the first place it’s no use.”

Issues were also raised about the path to the church being uneven, with two potholes on the path constituting a statutory trip hazard.

Inside the church, which is part of the Church of England (CofE), the parish is working on adjustments to provide wheelchair accessibility and a new disabled toilet.

It is understood that the part of The Warren where the disabled spaces are is owned by the CofE, meaning that any changes would have to be undertaken by CofE Diocese of Oxford.

Concern was also raised about access to Caversham Court Gardens.

While there are two car parking spaces for disabled people to get into the gardens, part of the lower level is sealed off due to wall restoration which cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said is costing millions.

The council had been considering a temporary ramp that would provide access to the lower level and the toilet facilities in the gardens.

However, a temporary ramp to the lower level would have cost £400 a week to hire.

Cllr Gavin said: “It would have been difficult to justify taxpayer money on that.”

Instead of establishing the ramp, the council installed a new temporary toilet that is serviced once a week.