The Access Officer operates within the Building Control Division which has close links with the Planning Control Division and with agents and developers. This enables the early identification of schemes where help and advice may be useful in assisting building owners and developers to achieve improved access.
It is estimated that one in four adults either has, or cares for a person with a disability. Easier access to and within buildings has a wide reaching benefit for all including those faced with the problems of pushing prams or pushchairs, managing heavy luggage, simply coping with old age or suffering from a temporary injury.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) gave disabled people new rights of access to goods, facilities and services. The requirements of the DDA have been introduced in phases since 1996. Since October 1999 access to high street services such as shops, restaurants, and pubs etc has been covered by the Act. There is now a duty for service providers to make reasonable adjustments to overcome barriers to access. Sometimes this might require structural alterations and the Access Officer can advise on the most appropriate changes. The Access Officer is available to provide further advice and guidance on the requirements of the DDA and other legislation with regard to methods of design, construction and layout etc. The Council is now able to provide an Access Audit service with appropriate guidance at a very reasonable cost. The cost of an audit depends on the size of your business premises but will normally be between £50 and £350. In addition training sessions can be arranged at a time convenient to you and your staff. The law does not just apply to shops but to every type of service provider including churches and charities, leisure parks and offices and even mail order or telephone based services. The law does not just apply to shops but to every type of service provider including churches and charities, leisure parks and offices and even mail order or telephone based services.
The Access Officer is also able to advise on services for disabled people and is the Council contact for the DisabledGo project, an online access guide to the Burton area.
In addition to the above, informal discussions regarding access and facilities for disabled people are welcomed and can be arranged by contacting the Access Officer.
A full range of training and access auditing services are available with charges being based on cost recovery only.
Access Officer
Barbara Harrison
barbara.harrison@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
telephone 01283 508721
fax 01283 508388