Disabled Access

magica wrote:They have lifts for wheelchairs, and also escalators.  They do need modernising though, but its the cost. If they do it they will lump the charge on more money for tickets, the passengers will pay more.

Major wrote:On TV this morning they showed someone complaining they had difficulty or impossibility to access buildings.

I have quite a few friends with businesses, for some it was not too expensive to get access improved but others just cannot afford to do so due to complications/ the enormity of the task.

Is it really fair to expect them to pay for the probs of someone else?

I believe in helping where it is relatively easy, not too expensive.

Example, installing a lift to go into a cellar for a pint would cost a fortune.

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Ben Reilly wrote:Ideally it would be the job of the owner of commercial property to either construct buildings accessibly, or to retrofit. It is absolutely fair to expect businesses to accommodate the disabled, as disability can happen to anyone at any time and is not the fault of the individual who is disabled.

When you allow businesses to operate in ways that do not allow certain types of people to use them, aren't you creating different classes of citizenship?

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

IF a service business such as a shop, cafe, pub, restaurant, doctors or accountants office, etc.  wants to be seen as a good, responsible and reliable business, than they need to have decent public access to their premises...

IF any such business wants to claim that they "can't afford" to provide adequate customer access, then I would have to question (a) the viability of that business;  and (b) the ethics, morals and general business acumen of that business's owner/operator..        

Some people simply shouldn't go into business for and by themselves --  some types of people are meant to only ever be employees..

sassy wrote:Exactly, there are a lot of disabled people, to stop them entering your business simply doesn't make economic sense.

Major wrote:

sassy wrote:Exactly, there are a lot of disabled people, to stop them entering your business simply doesn't make economic sense.

YES, it does make economic sense not to do it or they would do it.

Some disabled cannot cope with stairs for several reasons which is NOT the fault of the business owners, those who want these special concessions do not have a clue as to some of the expenses involved and the inconvenience of having to temporary close down to install a lift or special toilet.
Has anyone considered the cost of an architect to draw up plans for council planning and the cost of planning application and more than likely an appeal?

Installing a ramp is one thing, a lift is entirely different.

Again it is a case of people pretending to know and do not, like eddie posted about.

BTW big business can afford it mostly, the little guy can't mostly.

Raggamuffin wrote:This is surely a business issue. A small firm/shop/cafe can't necessarily make alterations just for disabled people - those in wheelchairs, for example. I'm sure there are plenty of other places they can go.

sassy wrote:

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

IF a service business such as a shop, cafe, pub, restaurant, doctors or accountants office, etc.  wants to be seen as a good, responsible and reliable business, than they need to have decent public access to their premises...

IF any such business wants to claim that they "can't afford" to provide adequate customer access, then I would have to question (a) the viability of that business;  and (b) the ethics, morals and general business acumen of that business's owner/operator..        

Some people simply shouldn't go into business for and by themselves --  some types of people are meant to only ever be employees..

Completely agree.   Contrary to some opinions, many disabled people work and pay taxes, and even if they don't that is through no fault of there own.   If we can't help disabled people to gain access to places everyone takes for granted, we don't have the right to call ourselves civilised.   Those who resent it should be bloody well ashamed of themselves, selfish to the core.

Lord Foul wrote:load of bollocks...

firstly the disability act has allowances , in as much as its only required whre it is "reasonably" practical to make any such alteration.
Secondly grants are available to help with costs
Thirdly any costs are ofsettable against tax ...not just for ONE but for I beleive 3 years, as such costs would come under the capital allowences rules....

If it isnt "reasonably practical" to adapt your building ...you cant be made to...
if its unreasonably costly (in relation to your business profits) again its not "reasonably practical"....

the disability act is NOT an absolute law....

Oh and major........since when have I basemented anyone purely for their views on a topic?

I didnt think you could provide an example......so stop being a silly billy, and grow a pair.....

Raggamuffin wrote:

Lord Foul wrote:load of bollocks...

firstly the disability act has allowances , in as much as its only required whre it is "reasonably" practical to make any such alteration.
Secondly grants are available to help with costs
Thirdly any costs are ofsettable against tax ...not just for ONE but for I beleive 3 years, as such costs would come under the capital allowences rules....

If it isnt "reasonably practical" to adapt your building ...you cant be made to...
if its unreasonably costly (in relation to your business profits) again its not "reasonably practical"....

the disability act is NOT an absolute law....

Oh and major........since when have I basemented anyone purely for their views on a topic?

I didnt think you could provide an example......so stop being a silly billy, and grow a pair.....

They wouldn't get the whole amount back via offsetting it against tax though. Some buildings just aren't suitable for providing access such as lifts anyway - they take up quite a bit of room, and it would be a large undertaking. The UK is full of old buildings where such a thing would be impractical. I think that disabled people know the best places to go in their area - where there are no stairs, or there's a wide door, or whatever.

Ben Reilly wrote:Ideally it would be the job of the owner of commercial property to either construct buildings accessibly, or to retrofit. It is absolutely fair to expect businesses to accommodate the disabled, as disability can happen to anyone at any time and is not the fault of the individual who is disabled.

When you allow businesses to operate in ways that do not allow certain types of people to use them, aren't you creating different classes of citizenship?