Oxford Street scores poorly on disabled facilities

London’s
busiest shopping street has been strongly criticised in a survey by the
Disability Rights Commission (DRC).

Oxford
Street has poor
changing-room facilities, toilets that were difficult to use, and cinemas that
are inaccessible for wheelchair users.

New
laws come into effect on Friday that can see businesses fined for not catering
for the UK’s
10 million disabled people.

In
the run up to this, disabled shoppers across the country were asked to assess a
day’s visit to their city centre. One participant found he could not use a
cinema as there was no lift, and he was told to use another cinema nearby.

A
disabled shopper found a toilet in the restaurant was difficult to use and the
changing rooms were not large enough to manoeuvre in, but the layout of the
clothing store was good.

DRC
chairman Bert Massie said: "While it’s clear that some shops and services
are getting it right for the disabled consumer, there are those that have done
little or nothing to prepare for the legislation."

By Mike Berry

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