Disabled pub-goer's campaign goes national

A disabled pub-lover's campaign to help people identify wheelchair-friendly venues has hit Parliament and could result in a change in the law.

Mark Cooper launched his campaign Barred! earlier this year, initially aiming to improve the situation for disabled pub-goers in Edinburgh.

Now his campaign has hit the national stage and was last week debated by a cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament.

Labour MSP George Foulkes also tabled a motion on the campaign congratulating Mark and calling for action on the issue.

Foulkes said: "Whilst not all pubs and clubs can be made fully accessible, national action is required to tackle the information gap about access so that disabled know where to go out to."

Meanwhile, Mark, who works for disabled charity Capability Scotland which has backed his initiative, has been promised a meeting with communities minister Alex Neil to discuss Barred!

"There seems to be cross-party support for the campaign and I'm looking forward to meeting with the minister," said Mark.

"I will be keeping up the pressure as I don't think it's too hard what we are trying to achieve."

Mark dreamt up the campaign after an incident where he was in a pub with disabled access, but no disabled toilet - meaning he was forced to go 200 yards up the road to another venue. He hopes to produce a national "good pub guide" on pubs that are wheelchair-friendly.

Bill Kidd, MSP and member of the equal opportunities committee added: "It's refreshing to see direct action on this issue by those personally affected, I am keen to see Barred! improve licensing law and re-enforce the Disability Discrimination Act by getting pub and club owners to consider the needs of disabled people."