Central Huron Council Approves The Installation Of Door Openers In Central Huron Stores

by Bob Montgomery

Central Huron council has endorsed a proposal to install more door openers in stores in Central Huron.

The project was started a few years ago by Central Huron's Community Improvement Coordinator Angela Smith. She points out the door openers are not just for people with mobility issues, but also for mothers will a stroller or with a young child in one hand and a purse in the other. Smith says store owners have told her that with the door openers, they're seeing a lot of people who previously had difficulties getting into their store.

Their ultimate goal is to get the automatic doors into all of the businesses in Central Huron. Ginn says the tourism group RTO4 has offered a donation of $3,000 for more of the automatic doors. Central Huron council approved a motion at this week's meeting to provide an additional $33,000 from the Community Improvement – Small Projects budget. 

Ginn adds, he believes the first town that becomes fully accessible will have a competitive advantage over the ones that aren't just because it's easier for people to get into those stores and store owners have said they've seen an increase in traffic through their stores since the automatic doors have been installed.