Cr Peter Cole organised the event last Thursday for Knox councillors and directors - but none of them showed up.

The aim was for Cr Cole and his council colleagues to sit in a wheelchair and see how difficult it was to get up and down a ramp at the warm-water pool, which is used by many people with disabilities.

Cr Cole has previously raised concerns about access and design issues with the pool. However, Cr Cole was the sole representative of the council.

Disability advocate Heather Milton, who was in attendance, said she was angry and disappointed the mayor and other councillors had not turned up.

"We are more than forgotten. It's just not good enough. People with disabilities, carers, and the elderly pay rates, but it seems we're not worthy of consideration."

Ms Milton said people with disabilities were devastated by the poor turnout by councillors.

Cr Cole's wheelchair proposal received a lukewarm response from his fellow councillors last week.

Councillors Sue McMillan, John Mortimore and Darren Pearce expressed reluctance about attending. "It's almost making a mockery of a person in a wheelchair," Cr McMillan said.

While waiting for the councillors, Ferntree Gully resident Lois Harper - who relies on a wheelchair to access the facility - said the warm-water pool was her only outlet for exercise.

She said she needed to use it to prevent lymphoedema and arthritis.

Ms Harper, who also suffers from back and breathing problems, said she would like a lift introduced to make access to the pool easier. "I want to be independent," she said.

Cr Cole said mayor Joe Cossari had promised to attend the event.

An hour after the arranged meeting time, Cr Cole received a call from a council officer to say the mayor would not be attending.

"It was embarrassing waiting for someone who had committed to the event and ended up being a no-show," Cr Cole said.

Cr Cossari told the Weekly he was unable to attend because a function at St Jude's Primary School had gone over time.

He denied withdrawing from the event due to the negative reaction of other councillors. "I've got no issue with what Peter did. I did not get cold feet, and it wasn't as if I didn't want to be there."

Cr Cossari left open the possibility of sitting in a wheelchair to find out about accessibility concerns at the pool. "If it's reasonable, I will."

Cr Cole said "everybody deserves a second chance" but he was disappointed Cr Cossari had not attended.