Rugby Observer, Thursday 15th July 2004
Town stores failing disabled shoppers
AN UNDERCOVER investigation into disabled access at town businesses has revealed all but 10 had problems.
The Rugby Disability Forum rated 48 town centre shops and businesses in unannounced visits last week, giving points for layout, service, safety, staff reaction, disabled service and access.
Wilkinson, in the Clock Towers shopping centre and Marks & Spencer, on High Street, came top scoring 84 out of a possible 120.
Specsavers on Market Place and Transworld Surplus Army Stores on Railway Terrace came joint bottom with scores of 10, with both scoring zero for access.
David Foster, forum chairman, said he was very concerned there were so many access problems.
“Anywhere that has less than 20 points is a problem for a wheelchair,” he added. “And it does give concern there are so many businesses in Rugby which really do have to address the Disability Discrimination Act.”
The operation was held to highlight the need for improvements before revised laws come into force on October 1 requiring businesses to improve disabled access.
Mr. Foster said the exercise was designed to open the eyes of shop managers and get them to work with disabled people to address the new laws. “We hope we can get a dialogue going and we can maintain that with the traders – this is not a name and shame.”
A Wilkinson spokeswoman said the company had been rolling out a programme of changes in its stores in line with the guidelines set out in the Disability Discrimination Act over the past four years.
“We aim to offer a warm Wilkinson welcome to every customer,” she added.
Helen Haycock, relief manager at Marks & Spencer said, “It just goes to show that going to some lengths to put in these changes has paid off.”
A Specsavers spokeswoman said she hoped to complete major changes before October, but Transworld Surplus on Railway Terrace refused to comment.
Traders wanting advice can contact the borough council’s access officer John Burrell on 01788 533796.
How they scored in the ratings
Business A B C D E F G Top Ten Wilkinsons 20 08 20 15 15 06 84 M&S 20 08 18 14 14 10 84 Dolland & Aitchison 20 10 19 15 14 05 83 Co-op Food Store 20 10 20 15 15 00 80 Clarks Shoes 20 10 20 15 15 00 80 Halifax 20 10 20 15 15 00 80 Witherspoons 20 07 18 12 12 09 78 Clinton Cards 20 10 15 12 10 10 77 Boots Chemist 20 08 20 15 10 00 73 Bon Marche 20 09 15 12 15 00 71 Bottom Ten: Joto 00 05 15 10 00 00 30 Oxfam 00 05 08 05 06 04 28 Money Shop 00 01 20 05 01 00 27 Sounds Expensive 00 04 08 06 07 00 25 Three Horseshoes 04 06 07 00 07 00 24 Hot Stuff Pizza 00 10 10 03 00 00 23 Sew & Kleen 00 01 15 05 00 00 21 Max Spielman 00 00 00 00 12 00 12 Specsavers 00 04 04 02 00 00 10 Trans World Supplies 00 05 05 00 00 00 10 KEY- A - Access B - Layout C - Customer service D - Staff reaction E - Saftey F - Disabled service G - Total score
These results are based solely upon the views and experiences of local disabled people who carried out audits on the stores listed between July 6 and 9 2004.