Pubs unclear on DDA legislation

Licensees have slammed the government for failing to provide effective guidelines on the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which comes into force next week. Many claim the legislation is still unclear and they are unsure of what they should be doing to make their premises accessible.

Under the new law, which comes into force on October 1, disabled people should receive equal and fair access to goods and services. It puts the onus on service providers, including publicans, to make "reasonable adjustments" to their premises to cater for disabled people.

However, publicans claim that they are unsure about what is reasonable and how they should proceed.

Chere Goddard, licensee of the Maple Leaf in Halstead, Essex, said: "The government has not given us enough information and what is reasonable for some people is not reasonable for others. We've put in a concrete ramp but we have no room for disabled toilets. Most licensees are also strapped for cash."

Licensee Ian Hudson, of the Devon Arms Hotel in Teignmouth, Devon, said: "I have done nothing and I'm not sure what I should be doing. If the government wants us to meet standards it should give us guidelines and some money to do it."

Scope, the Cerebral Palsy charity agrees that while many pubs are trying to assist disabled customers there is confusion over what they are required to do under the new legislation.

The government has refuted the claims. A spokesman said: "In preparing for the DDA, the government realises that what might be affordable or practical for one pub may not be so for another. This is why the act only requires what is reasonable. It needn't cost the earth."

In The Publican Market Report 2004, a survey of 700 publicans, only 54 per cent said they have taken action on accessibility. Only one in five have trained their staff in how to deal with disabled customers.

Free2Pee?​

As part of its Free2Pee campaign Scope is having a Big Night Out on Friday, October 1.

It will have 1,000 people surveying pubs, bars and other leisure venues to see if they are accessible for disabled people. They will be looking specifically at whether toilets are easy to gain access to.

The Free2Pee campaign has support of comedian Al Murray, famous for his stand-up act as the Pub Landlord.

In the literature he says "...after all, when you think about it, their pee is as good as anyone else's…"

For details go to www.free2pee.org.uk