Rugby Advertiser, Thursday 15th July 2004
Our shops ‘could do better’ for disabled
By Phil Hibble
RUGBY shops and businesses have been found wanting when it comes to access for disabled people, according to the recent ‘mystery shopper’ survey.
Forty-five disabled people and Rugby councilors visited town centre shops last week, to compile a league table, and the comprehensive survey showed many firms could not provide basics such as safety and even suitable access to the shop.
But the results also highlighted a number of success stories in the town centre, and organisers agree that, with new laws coming in October stating businesses must legally provide disabled access, the scheme has been very beneficial.
“The objective of the exercise was to bring the issue to the forefront,” said David Foster, Chairman of the Rugby Disability Forum.
“There is a lot of good to be taken out of it but there is still a loot of work to be done.”
Out of the 58 surveyed, only 11 had appropriate access, with Specsavers and Trans World Supplies finishing in the bottom two of the league.
At the other end, Wilkinsons and Marks and Spencer finished joint top.
Reacting to the announcement, Marks and Spencer’s Duty Manager, Maggie Bean, said: “I am delighted – M&S prides itself on customer service and accessibility for all of its customers.”
Specsavers’ Mr. Patel said he had “taken full cognizance of the results and hopes to do something major before October.”
Mr. Foster also stressed that the idea behind the survey was to build a partnership with local traders, and was delighted that Clock Towers Shopping Centre Manager, Tony Spencer, has welcomed the audit and vowed to back the move.
He added that organisers are planning a ‘trading places’ exercise for the future, where traders test their own facilities to cater for the disabled.