Darlington town centre disabled row on the cards (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Bank ramp set to be blocked in High Row
12:02pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News
COUNCIL planning officers could be on a collision course with disability campaigners after recommending plans for a wheelchair-accessible ramp at a town centre bank be refused.
Barclays Bank wants to remove the main entrance steps at its Grade II-listed premises in Darlington’s High Row, to be replaced by a ramp, handrail and steps.
Members of Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee will debate the proposals at a meeting tomorrow.
The changes would see a ramp stretch out a considerable distance from the front of the building onto the public highway.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be refused, although there have been no objections and disabled advocacy group Darlington Association on Disability (Dad) is in favour.
A report to members said: “The proposed ramp and replacement stairs, by virtue of their design and prominence, would compromise the application building’s architectural and historic significance and would harm the character and appearance of the town centre.
“The ramp would be located over the public highway and consequently there is a highway objection.
“Darlington Association on Disability commented that it supports the application, as the bank has poor access for disabled people and that although they have always supported highways in not having external ramps that protrude on to the public highway, this case is exceptional as the lift accessed from the side door is not satisfactory.”
Dad chairman Gordon Pybus said he was “torn” over the application.
He said: “If every shop and bank in the High Row had a ramp outside, we would have a problem and I support highways not wanting the pavements blocked, which can cause issues for visually-impaired people.
“However, I do not want to be a reason for Barclays to do nothing, so we are supporting the application.”
The committee meets at 1.30pm tomorrow, at the town hall.
Comments(9)
verdilith
says...
6:09pm Tue 18 Sep 12
George BA
says...
6:31pm Tue 18 Sep 12
There are many more options available other than fixed ramps.
Wonder what would happen if someone brought an action under the equality act 2010, especially if the council had stopped the improvement.
All buildings that have public access, should be accessible to everyone, at least Barclays are willing to do something positive, one of the other banks HSBC recently got sued for not fulfilling their obligations under the law.
The planners don't seem to grasp what the law requires and what their own council purports to support.
Being a listed building or one of architectural interest does not mean it can ignore the Equality Act
Copley23
says...
6:41pm Tue 18 Sep 12
missnatalieann
says...
7:23pm Tue 18 Sep 12
the council loves denying planning permission and eventually the businesses are going to move to a more suitable building and then the historical buildings will become derilict anyways just. like the old flares on skinnergate!
why not allow disabled people live their lives as the same as possible as well abled people aswell?
gary123
says...
8:58pm Tue 18 Sep 12
plenty of ramp options anyway.
NO EINSTEIN
says...
10:30pm Tue 18 Sep 12
aquickrant wrote:Hello, listen too aquickrant wrote: that sorts it for me.
there is already disabled access at the side. why waste more money.
Spy Boy
says...
12:49am Wed 19 Sep 12
Would it be possible to build it into one of the 4 front facing window arches without making it too obvious ? Surely Barclays could afford something on these lines.
George BA
says...
10:00pm Sat 22 Sep 12
aquickrant says...
12:12pm Tue 18 Sep 12