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 | | SURVEYS SHOW `THE INDEPENDENT HIGH STREET' IS NOT DDA COMPLIANT | | | Coastform Systems Limited | | 27/09/2006 | | |
Sheffield, South Yorkshire: The Managing Director of a small company which has developed a range of touch sensitive products to help less able members of the community gain easier access to a wide range of commercial and domestic premises has criticised independent high street retailers for their non-compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
Over the last few months, Dr Tim Ingersoll, Managing Director of Coastform Systems Limited, has conducted informal surveys in small towns in Yorkshire and Norfolk and believes his findings reflect badly on thousands of independent high street retailers.
He said: 'It seems that whilst banks, building societies and main post offices have made adequate provisions for wheel chair users and other less able members of the community to call for assistance in gaining access to these premises, the majority of independent retailers have made no provision at all.'
In the delightful Georgian town of Holt, North Norfolk, 72% of the properties included in the survey had access which would pose difficulties for shoppers with mobility problems, and only 12% of these properties had installed any form of assistance. In Goole, Yorkshire it was a very similar story with access to 68% of the properties in the survey being by way of one or two steps and, whilst one building had handrails, none of the others had any form of bell or means by which assistance could be summoned.
Dr Tim Ingersoll again: 'Outside of modern shopping malls, access to high street properties, particularly in the UK's larger towns and cities, will often present problems to shoppers with personal mobility problems.
Removing all the steps between pavement and shop is obviously impractical, but the DDA can be complied with through such simple measures as fitting a bell by which less able shoppers can summon assistance. For £80 (ex vat) Coastform Systems can supply TouchCall, a touch sensitive plate which, when mounted inside a shop window, allows the lightest touch on the outside of the shop window or frontage to activate a sounder to inform staff inside the building that someone needs assistance in gaining access.'
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