GRAEME Rudd was absolutely right to highlight the falling apart of 'joined-up government' over planning and building control and the Disability Discrimination Act, (DDA) 1995, (Letters, June 27).

York Access Group is aware of a case where even when a ramp was provided as well as an accessible WC "by the book", no adjustment was made to the width of the entrance or other doors in the winding corridor between the two, which were much narrower than the mandatory lavatory door.

However, it is not fair to put all the blame on the council officials.

The really sad thing is that shopkeepers and others are wasting thousands of pounds by failing to put themselves in disabled people's shoes (or wheels) and think what they have to achieve.

It's just another case of "nobody has asked for an accessible toilet before" because no disabled people got beyond the first doorway.

There is one small ray of hope.

Just before the May General Election, DDA 2005 was rushed through Parliament without publicity or 2004 hype before its code of practice had been properly finalised.

This will impose a "duty to promote disability equality", which the Disability Rights Commission hopes "will have a significant impact on the way in which all public services are run".

David J Brown,

Secretary,

York Access Group,

Acomb House,

Front Street,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, June 29, 2005