Pubco slams LA for blocking disabled access plans
A London pub company has slammed its local council for obstructing plans to make one of its sites accessible to disabled customers.
Albar Ventures, which runs South African bar chain Zulus and the Sir Alfred Hitchcock Hotel pub in Leytonstone (pictured), is outraged that Waltham Forest Council has been blocking plans to put a smoke-free conservatory and accessible lift onto the back of the pub for two years.
The company says that an influential resident is issuing complaints to the council. After four drafts of the plans they have still been rejected by the council's planning committee.
Jason Flack, director of Albar Ventures, told The Publican: "We have had various meetings with local residents. We think the development will improve the area. We have an outside patio at the moment where people sit out and drink - it will be quieter with the conservatory if anything.
"I am trying to do the right thing. How can I get disabled access and how can I be liable for this if the council will not let me?"
Under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act, which came into force on October 1, all service providers need to make "reasonable adjustments" to meet the needs of disabled people. That can mean anything from Braille menus and accessible toilets to a wheelchair lift. If operators are found not to be meeting the needs of disabled customers they could face prosecution and unlimited fines.
A spokeswoman for Waltham Forest Council said: "The application for a conservatory was turned down due to the adverse impact it would have on the conservation area, and also the effect it would have on local residents.
"An appeal against the decision has been lodged, and this is currently with the Planning Inspectorate.
"Depending on its decision we can discuss with the Sir Alfred Hitchcock Hotel any concerns it has with regards to access issues for people with disabilities."
A spokesman for the Disability Rights Commission argued that if the council had issues with the extension it should offer alternatives.
"The obligation is on the service provider to make adjustments. If the council is going to obstruct this, it could open itself to legal action," he said.
