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Policy Papers
Response to
Building standards consultation (stage 3)
June 2002
1.
BASC and SBSA - Membership
of these bodies should have strong representation from disability organisations.
This representation could be drawn from perhaps a sub-group composed of
people with disabilities and representatives from those interested in the built
environment e.g. building control officers, construction industry, developers,
architects. People with
disabilities should have a strong voice in an area which plays such an important
role in their lives � the ability to get around and use the facilities
available to everyone else. These
2 bodies would be the keystone to any policy of improving access by calling on
the experience of those most affected when things go wrong.
2.
Technical (functional) standards most important.
Building standards must be strong, detailed, enforceable and with the
will to see they are complied with.
3.
Welcome access for people with disabilities expanded to include
extensions, alterations and refurbishment.
4.
Exemptions. Care must
be taken with the principle of granting exemptions.
(no blanket exemptions) � judged on merits.
Crown properties should be covered along with any other property � no
exemptions.
5.
Verification etc. must be kept in the public domain where there is
uniformity and more importantly public accountability.
For this reason this should be kept at local level where people have
access to local officials who are sensitive to local needs and interests.
Self certification definitely not. Private
could be open to collusion and inconsistency
6.
Enforcement of access for people with disabilities is vital and any
non-compliance and ignoring rules must be punished in such a way that it is not
worth breaking them
7.
Verification � important this is done before building is used for
business, i.e. issue of completion certificate.
If not use powers to close down until comply.
8.
Residential - we are
pressing as a matter of urgency to raise the accessibility standard from the
ridiculous �visitability�. No other group of people would accept this
blatant discrimination. This is so
minimal only allowing entry but no insistence that the facilities have to be
useable. Housing would be accessible to all i.e. extend
Ministers goal of access for us to everywhere.
This would be achieved by barrier free housing � designed, planned and
built for everyone.
9.
Phrase �access for all� sounds good but what does it mean? Specific functional standards must be laid down to underpin
the practicalities of achieving this.
They should state details as before e.g. width or doors, gradients of
ramps, colour of signage etc. It is
fundamental that people with disabilities should be deeply and meaningfully
involved at this level. Retrograde
to say something like �access for wheelchair users must be provided� - basic questions how? and where?.
10.
Good practice. Most
local areas have a good relationship between the local authority planning
department and organisations of people with disabilities.
This is of mutual benefit and can save time and money. This should be encouraged and as it works locally
should be extended to national level.
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