Petition demands pubs be legally obliged to provide disabled facilities

12-Aug-2013 - Last updated on 14-Aug-2013 at 08:22 GMT

Blue Badge Style is calling on pubs to improve disabled facilities

Pubs and other hospitality businesses that do not have disabled facilities should be legally obliged to retro-fit such amenities, according to a lifestyle guide for the disabled.

That’s the view of Blue Badge Style which has launched a petition calling for more to be done.

The petition notes: "So many old and not so old buildings that house hospitality businesses do not have disabled facilities and yet able-bodied facilities are available. Developers should be made to do this when refurbishing old sites. English Heritage encourages imaginative solutions to the provision of disabled facilities in listed buildings."

Equality

The Equality Act 2010 puts an obligation on employers and service providers to make “reasonable adjustments” to accommodate those with disabilities.

Blue Badge Style founder Fiona Jarvis said: “Lack of disabled facilities in hospitality venues is a major reason why disabled people do not feel included in society.”

A spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association said: “Many pubs are already making positive changes on access and pubs are aware of their obligation in law, making further change through Government action unnecessary.”

The BBPA has an access guide for pubs.