Accessibility Statement

This community council website is built using Google Sites, a free platform that enables volunteers to maintain an up-to-date resource for local residents without technical expertise or significant costs. We are committed to making our content as accessible as possible within these practical constraints.

Platform Limitations

Google Sites has inherent structural limitations that prevent full compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. These include issues with auto-generated navigation menus, embedded frames, and certain dynamic elements that cannot be modified by site editors. For example, it is not possible for site editors to use code to guarantee a minimum size for a piece of content. This can become an issue when Google Sites dynamically changes the size of content when it is being viewed on desktops, tablets, and mobile. Under the UK's Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which apply to public bodies in Scotland, disproportionate burden exemptions apply where full compliance would require switching platforms or extensive redevelopment, which is not feasible for a volunteer-run community site.

Our Mitigation Efforts

We implement straightforward, low-effort steps to address key accessibility principles. We strive to ensure:

• Images include descriptive alt text where relevant.

• Moving images or GIFs do not auto-loop or exceed 5 seconds.

• All user-added links use underline styling and blue colouring to stand out from surrounding text.

• Default font sizes are 12pt or larger, with options for users to adjust via browser zoom.

• Content maintains sufficient colour contrast (at least 4.5:1 for normal text).

• User-written links receive a visible focus outline during keyboard navigation (Tab key).

• Headings follow a logical structure (title, heading, subheading) for screen readers.

• Pages avoid auto-playing audio/video.

• Where available and possible, synchronised closed captions will be on by default.

• Where we own the copyright, or if the owner has made it available, we will provide appropriate   text transcripts for any embedded media.

• For embedded media we will ensure that surrounding text gives a short description of the embedded content or provide a link to such a description if that is more appropriate.

• Periodically, and especially after major updates, all pages will be evaluated for accessibility using the WAVE web accessibility evaluation tool or something similar.

Known issues

The YouTube video on our history page has auto-generated closed captions and, as such, does not fully comply with WCAG requirements. YouTube limitations also mean we cannot turn this subtitling on by default. The subtitles have been checked, and whilst not completely perfect are accurate nearly all of the time. It is a short video and the text immediately preceding gives a brief summary of the video's content. Users are alerted to the availability of closed captions and the fact that these may not be 100% accurate.

Last reviewed: March 2026.