THE FIRST phase to improve access and facilities for disabled Gulls fans has been completed.

The work has been undertaken by Torquay United Supporters' Trust and has taken almost 18 months to complete.

Disabled supporters using the new facilities will enjoy an improved access approach and have a greatly improved sightline as well as being better protected from the elements when an easterly blows its way across Plainmoor.

The facility will also allow a carer to sit alongside the disabled supporter.

John Mowl, who has headed up the project, said: "It's been a long and sometimes frustrating road, but we've got there.

"It would have been lovely to have turned the project around a lot quicker, but the fact is, it just isn't that simple.

"We have had to cut through a lot of red tape and we've been required to jump through a number of hoops to ensure this phase of the project came to fruition, but we are delighted a major part of the project has been completed.

"But at the end of the day, it's the supporters who have paid for these facilities as we have raised the money through membership fees, collections and other fundraising methods.

"The supporters have backed us all the way and that is what a trust is all about.

"We are here to represent the supporters and to act in their best interests, and when we all pull together we can achieve things. The results are testament to the generosity and community spirit of the supporters."

The trust has also carried out work to improve the stairway access to the grandstand, immediately behind the dug-outs.

This will make the area far more user-friendly and much safer for the blind supporters, the infirm and elderly as well as users in general.

All work complies with regulations as required by the local regulations and the footballing authorities.

At the trust's first annual meeting in October 2007, the membership gave the trust board a mandate to concentrate their efforts on improving disabled facilities at the club, and they have been working on the project ever since.

John said: "The work went without a hiccup and Plainmoor now has a brand new facility which will benefit the disabled section of our supporter base.

"By chance on the day the work was completed, the club was visited by representatives from the Football League and they liked the new facility and were very impressed with what we were doing."

The trust's disabled liaison officer, Martin Wildman, who is himself a tetraplegic and confined to a motorised wheelchair, said: "It's almost two years ago at the trust's first annual meeting we asked members what they wanted us to do on their behalf.

"There were a number of options put to them, but the resounding answer was improve the facilities for the disabled. They gave us that mandate and we have worked toward it ever since."

The trust has already carried out improvements in the disabled toilets at Plainmoor, purchased new radio transmission equipment to improve the commentary service provided for the blind and partially-sighted and donated a significant amount of money toward the stairlift which the club had installed in the reception area.

Martin added: "This marks a significant milestone in the disabled project, but perhaps now we can have a new primary focus for the trust.

"The whole board works extremely hard on a whole number of fronts, and the disabled supporters project is just one of them.

"While the disabled project will continue, now we can get our teeth into something else."

The trust, formed under former chairman, Chris Roberts, back in December 2006, has around 400 members and has involved itself in a number of varied initiatives since its inception.