Breaking down the barriers

MAJOR businesses in York city centre are failing to provide for disabled customers, despite new government legislation introduced six months ago.

An investigation by the Evening Press found companies throughout the city were still not providing access for wheelchair users.

Among them were several national firms, including leading high street stores.

The final part of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) became law on October 1, 2004, and said businesses had to take reasonable measures to make their premises accessible to all. But six months on, many York companies remained inaccessible to disabled people.

Lynn Jeffries has campaigned to get companies to adapt to the DDA, and runs her own access consultancy firm, JD Associates. She toured York with the Evening Press to see what difference the DDA had made, and found numerous buildings inaccessible for her electric wheelchair.

"What we found was disappointing, without doubt," she said.

"It was worse than I thought it was going to be six months on.

"One of the things that struck me with the biggest firms was the awful situation that staff are in.

"Their own organisations are letting them down."

Among the businesses with no access were some the Evening Press had alerted before.

In 1999, we visited Habitat, in High Ousegate, and identified their shortcomings.

But when we returned, three of their four entrances had a step, and the fourth was blocked shut.

At the Tourist Information Centre in Exhibition Square, the only access was via four steps.

The centre was one of the properties visited by the Evening Press when part three of the DDA became law, but Lynn still could not access the building.

Across the city there were dozens of businesses with one step at the entrance, which Lynn said was one of the most irritating problems.

She said: "You get a lot of shops that think because it's just a small step they are okay. But it's still a barrier to a disabled person."

The Body Shop branches in Coppergate Walk and Stonegate had a step, as did the Thomas Cook travel agent and Jon Barrie clothing shop in Parliament Street.

Dollond & Aitchison optician in Parliament Street had a step, and stairs inside, while Fillans jeweller in Stonegate and Ladbrokes in Goodramgate both had two high steps at the entrance.

Several firms, such as Starbucks, said constructing a permanent ramp was too expensive or impractical, and had instead placed a bell at the entrance.

This alerted staff who brought out a portable ramp, which Lynn said was fine as long as there were clear signs beside the bell.

Other firms said they had been prevented by the City of York Council from making their buildings fully accessible.

The Yorkshire Bank in Coney Street had installed handrails on the door, and painted a white line across the step to make it more visible to partially-blind customers.

But the bank was refused permission to build a permanent ramp by the council, as it would be a hazard to blind pedestrians.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the bank's application for a permanent ramp had been rejected, but said she saw no reason why the bank could not use a portable ramp.

Cerebral palsy charity Scope conducted a report on October 1, and found only 38 per cent of businesses in the north of England had adequate access.

This compared favourably with the UK as a whole, where only 19 per cent were deemed satisfactory.

But six months on, Lynn said the lack of action in York was a let-down, and she said there should be stronger enforcement of the law.

She said: "The Disability Rights Commission will pick up cases passed to them, but it is up to individuals to refer the cases.

"A lot of people want to complain, but don't know how to do it."

A spokeswoman for Scope echoed her views. She said: "Responsibility is with the individual to challenge a company through the civil courts. We're unhappy with that.

"We feel there should be a tribunal system set up for people to take cases to.

"The difficulty with the courts is the costs, because there is no guarantee of them getting compensation."

Anyone wishing to refer a case to the Disability Rights Commission should visit the commission's website at www.drc-gb.org.

Any business which would like to consult Lynn on making their premises DDA compliant should phone JD Associates on 07952 501894.

We challenged the companies in question about why they had not made their properties fully accessible. Here are their responses.

Body Shop, Coppergate Walk and Stonegate

What was wrong? There was a step at each of the Coppergate Walk and Stonegate branches.

There was a bell at Stonegate, but staff did not know if there was a ramp.

What they said: A company spokeswoman said: "For the Stonegate store, we were unable to include ramp access due to the store size, so in agreement with the local authority we installed a push button bell at the door, which has Braille for non-sighted customers.

"When this is pressed by a disabled customer, a member of staff will swiftly respond and assist them to enter the store.

"The Coppergate Walk store is on a hill and currently has a step as part of the entrance."

She said the firm planned to start making the shop DDA compliant in May.

What had been done a fortnight later: Plans were still in place to make both shops compliant with the DDA by May.

Dolland & Aitchison, Parliament Street

What was wrong? There was a step at the main door, and a flight of stairs inside leading to the eye-testing centre.

What they said: A company spokeswoman said: "There are plans in place to refit the branch later this year, pending approval.

"The shopfront access will be addressed as a priority within these plans. In the meantime, a portable access ramp will be put in place as soon as possible."

What had been done a fortnight later: Assistant manager Alexandra Barrett said the portable access ramp had now arrived and the shop refit was still in the pipeline.

Fillans jeweller, Stonegate

What was wrong? There were two steps at the front door, and another one inside the shop.

What they said: John Bannaghan, director of the firm, said it had not got round to getting a ramp. He said: "We were advised it would be too steep for a permanent ramp, and that we had to get a removable one. It is easier for everyone that way.

"I know we should have a ramp, and if you come back in another six months, we will have one."

What had been done a fortnight later: Assistant manager Carol Gilleard said they were still looking for a removable ramp.

Habitat, High Ousegate

What was wrong? Of the four entrances, three had a step. Only one was level access, but the door was locked, and a rack of pictures was stacked against the door.

What they said: Operations manager at the branch, Chilli Stenson, said: "I know the situation is very poor, and I promise I will look into getting it remedied."

The firm's safety and project support manager, Martin Green, said the store was to be refurbished soon, but in the short term a bell and portable ramp would be installed within the next fortnight.

What had been done a fortnight later: Chilli Stenson said a bell and portable ramp had been installed and there were still plans to refurbish in the long term.

Jon Barrie, Parliament Street

What was wrong? There was a foot-high step at the door. The assistant offered to bring clothes out, but could not help Lynn into the shop.

What they said: John Bowness, consultant and former owner of the firm, said: "We have possibly been a bit lax, and we have no one to blame. We will be looking into what is incorrect and will put it right."

When we suggested much of the problem could be solved with a portable ramp, a bell, and a sign he said steps would be taken to rectify the situation immediately.

What had been done a fortnight later: Manager Shaun Holland said a ramp was in the process of being made.

What was wrong? There were two foot-high steps at the door.

What they said: A company spokesman said: "It is the company's policy to have disabled access wherever possible, but unfortunately at Goodramgate we don't have it. But we do have a shop on Piccadilly that does have full access and disabled toilets."

What had been done a fortnight later: No change.

Thomas Cook, Parliament Street

What was wrong? There was a small step at the entrance. Lynn managed to bump over it in her electric wheelchair, but said it would have been impossible in a manual one.

What they said: A company spokeswoman said: "Reasonable adjustments have been made where possible to accommodate disabled customers. Thomas Cook has two stores in York and the other store does not have a step."

What had been done a fortnight later: No change.

Tourist Information Centre, Exhibition Square

What was wrong? Four concrete steps stood between Lynn's electric wheelchair and the building. There was another step inside the foyer.

What they said: Philip Thake, chief executive of the York Conservation Trust, which owns the building, said: "A full review on this will begin this month.

"Because the building is listed we will need consent for any proposed alterations, which could take approximately three months to come through.

"However, we would like to reassure all visitors to York's Tourist Information Centre that this is a high priority issue and all efforts are being made to rectify the current situation."

What had been done a fortnight later: No change.

Updated: 11:20 Monday, April 25, 2005