Libraries brought to book over the disabled

DISABLED people in South Buckinghamshire often face a mountain of problems when they arrive at many public and private buildings.

Steps, kerbs, hard-to-open doors, high shelves and difficult parking mean that getting inside is either impossible or at best an awkward, painful obstacle course.

Last week the county's libraries service came under scrutiny by a county council sub-committee.

A report given to members said that legal action might eventually be taken against the council if it fails to quickly provide access for disabled people at more than 40 libraries.

Bob Strong, a libraries officer, warned that the Disability Rights Commission and disabled people could take action under the new Disability Discrimination Act.

He said a survey had shown that the county council, which already has a programme of improvements, will have to find about £206,000 to bring all libraries up to standard.

Cllr Brenda Jennings, chairman of the lifelong learning sub-committee, said afterwards there had been a council study group with disabled people and their comments were noted.

'Our council has been active on this front and we're continuing to provide the necessary changes but of course it's a long job,' she said.

County councillor Maurice Oram (Lib Dem, Marlow South) said that ramps were put in place at Marlow Library for wheelchair users when it was rebuilt a few years ago.

He added: 'It is very unfortunate that in other places the disabled can't get access. They (the council) are legally bound to provide it.'

The new Act, which is being enforced in stages, will really start to 'bite' in 2004 when it comes into full force. Peter Mansell, chief executive of RADAR, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, said this week: 'It may have far reaching positive effects and partly benefit people with all sorts of disabilities, but there has been criticism.'

His group, which is working on behalf of 547 disability charities and groups in Britain, think the Act does not go far enough.

The Act is the first attempt by a British government to legislate on discrimination that disabled people often face.

Mr Mansell said: 'The Act introduces a right not to be discriminated against in the areas of employment and goods and services including the duty on employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate disabled people's access.

'The Act also requires the Government to set minimum access standards for transport vehicles and requires education providers to provide annual statements detailing the facilities available.'

In October 1997, the newly elected Labour Government announced that it would introduce a Disability Rights Task Force to review the Act and set up a commission to enforce the Act.

The task force reported last December and recommended a series of changes. The Government says there will be an announcement soon.

Meanwhile the Act has had a delayed full enforcement period to give councils and others a chance to upgrade and alter buildings to suit the needs of disabled people.

The Act states that there is a 'duty on the service provider to take such steps as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case to remove, alter and adjust the feature where physical disability makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to make use of the goods, services or facilities to enable access.'

Mr Mansell said the Act also outlines circumstances where discriminatory treatment can be justified.

He said: 'It allows a service provider to refuse to provide a service to a disabled person or to fail to make reasonable adjustments if the health and safety of the disabled person, or anyone else, would be at risk.'

Mr Mansell added: 'The Act has been severely criticised by disabled people and their organisations as failing to provide the comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that disabled people have been demanding for nearly 20 years.

'The biggest criticism of the Act related to its failure to introduce a commission with similar powers to the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality.'

The Government's reaction is awaited.