Disabled groups to sue if new Act isn’t implemented

9:39am Thursday 12th August 2004

Disabled people in Barnet are being urged to sue the borough's council, businesses and health authority for refusing to comply with new disability legislation which comes into force in October.

With only two months before the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) makes it illegal for these organisations not to give access to disabled people, the majority of premises in Barnet do not comply with the new legislation.

This leaves the borough's 46,000 disabled residents with one option to ensure the changes are made legal action.

Will Dingli, of the Disability Rights Commission, said: "I would encourage disabled people in Barnet who feel aggrieved to come forward."

The commission, an independent body established to stop disability discrimination, is offering free legal advice and will cover the costs if an organisation or business does not conform.

And with damages of £2,000 expected per case, legal bills could be substantial across borough.

Barnet Council revealed in a recent cabinet report that only 17 per cent of its buildings will meet the DDA requirements by the autumn, and that no funds are available to make necessary changes.

Research by Disability Action borough Barnet (DAbB) discovered that out of 12 Primary Care Trust clinics it visited, the majority would not pass the new standards. Another group, Access in Barnet, surveyed shops in the borough and showed that the majority had not made the necessary changes, which they are only excused from making if they can show they would suffer financially if they did.

Japal Dhani, of DAbB, said: "Business owners have had ten years' notice to get their act together and very little has been done."

Michael Cofin, of Barnet Borough Sight Impaired and who himself is partially sighted, said: "There remains a lot to be done in two months. People think that accessibility is just for wheelchairs, but it is access to buildings and to information as well."

Councillor Katia David, the council's cabinet member for equality, said: "We do have a plan in place to bring all buildings up to the standards, but we will be unable to reach that by October. We are channelling services that require customer contact into buildings that do comply."

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