JRL Brickwork and other members of community help Grantham father complete dream driveway to improve safety for his disabled daughter

A Grantham father’s driveway has been revamped following a joint effort by the local community.

David Arnold of Tennyson Avenue appealed for help earlier this year, after struggling to get his adult daughter Keeley, 23, who has cerebral palsy, to and from their adapted car because of a high double kerb outside his house.

After reading about a previously unsuccessful application to South Kesteven District Council for a dropped kerb outside the house, Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for highways Councillor Richard Davies wanted to do something that could help David and his family.

The drop kerb work was completed in the summer, but David needed more help to remove earth from his driveway and add paving, so that he could park as close to his front door as possible.

James Laurie, director of JRL Brickwork, had put a call out to offer the services of his apprentices to good causes in the area, and David was able to get in contact with him.

David explained that James came and looked at what needed to be done for the driveway and that he should not worry about the cost.

“I could have fallen through the floor!” said David. “James is such an amazing bloke.”

The apprentices made sure that the driveway was ready to have paving laid on it, with the help of Tommy Finney, of TGF Building Services, who was able to move a large part of the mud and clay.

James gave up his own Buildbase reward points to purchase the blocks, which were laid by Ian Haynes.

“I called in some favours,” said James. “The main thing was helping David.

“If there is another project like this, that helps someone, then I can probably do one or two a year. It’s nice to give a bit back.”

David described his new drive as “absolutely marvellous”.

“My daughter came out of the house this morning onto the drive and she started smiling. I felt this warm glow come over me,” added David.

David suffers from arthritis in his hips and had previously had issues with Keeley ending up on the floor in the middle of the road whilst trying to cross from their council house to the vehicle.

“To see her in the middle of the road, and me not being able to get her back up, was terrifying,” he said.

David, who has lived in the house for 16 years, said that the changes now mean that he and Keeley do not have to cross over the busy road twice a day to get her in the car, and he could instead park right in front of the house.