CAMPAIGNERS fighting for improved disabled access to buildings and public spaces have asked why a Hove seafront restaurant was allowed to open without a lift to its roof terrace.
Pippa Hodge, from Brighton Access for Disabled Groups Everywhere (BADGE), asked Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee about Rockwater which has no lift to its new roof terrace.
When the designs for the venue were approved in August, Rockwater proposed that a lift would be included in the west side of the building.
But Ms Hodge asked councillors to explain why the venue had been allowed to operate since last December without access to the roof, breaking council policy and the Equalities Act.
She said: “The law is clear that access is a requirement and should have been a condition of use of the roof terrace. Why do disabled people’s needs continue to be last to be addressed?”
During the meeting on Wednesday, Ms Hodge also asked councillors to commit to training to understand the Equalities Act.
She said that disabled people needed more than the minimum requirements if they were to have full access to buildings.
Green councillor Leo Littman, chairs the council’s planning committee, said that council officials had added a condition requiring that the lift be installed by Saturday 5 February.
He said: “If the lift is not made available by that date, operation of the venue must cease until it is.
“While it is, of course, disappointing the venue does not yet have full access for those with disabilities, this is being addressed by the condition in the new permission.
“As noted in the question, the equalities requirements are covered by other legislation and can be enforced by other means if they are breached.”
Councillor Littman agreed to add Equalities Act training to the planning committee’s programme describing it as a “useful contribution”.
Rockwater was approached for comment.
Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.
Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.
You can also call us on 01273 021 400.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel