Euro-MP Urges Review Of Access To Public Buildings

6.10.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Jun 2005

Following a juror at Leeds Crown Court being discharged because the building was not suitable for wheelchair users, a Euro-MP has urged the Government to make sure the Disability Discrimination Act is being properly enforced.

Liberal Democrat MEP, Liz Lynne, who worked on the Act while an MP said she was concerned that nearly nine months on from the Act becoming law, little seems to have changed for disabled people.

"It is a disgrace that in the 21st Century someone is not allowed to fulfil their civic duty as a juror. I very much agree with the judge that the legislation seems to have been ignored in all sorts of public buildings. I hope the publicity from this case will see a review of all public buildings to make sure they comply with the Act.

"Some of the blame for non compliance lies with a lack of education and urgency from the government but in most cases people can have no excuses for not adhering to this law. People knew about the DDA for nine years before it was fully implemented and they should have acted long before now."

ENDS