DDB 99 Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON
SWiA OAA
From Dr John Pugh MP
25 February 2004
Dear Lord Carter,
I am writing to you in your capacity
as a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Bill.
It has been drawn to my attention that
there is nothing in current legislation that protects disabled
and elderly people living in leasehold flats without lifts in
cases where they would wish to install stair-lifts. At the moment
there has to be unanimous agreement from all other residents before
installation can take place. This means that just one resident
can refuse permission even if health and safety requirements are
complied with.
I enclose a letter sent to me by the
Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre highlighting this problem and
I would urge you to consider it in your deliberations.
Yours sincerely,
Mr John Pugh MP
House of Commons
London
05/02/04
Dear Mr Pugh
We are an independent
voluntary organisation that works with and for older people in
the Metropolitan
Borough of Sefton. I would like to draw to your attention an issue,
which I have been dealing with recently and which is likely to
affect many older and disabled people in the future.
The situation involves
the installation of stair-lifts in blocks of leasehold flats,
which do not have a lift. I understand that, at present, anyone
needing a stair-lift to be installed in the common parts of the
building, needs to have permission from the other residents. If
the Occupational Therapy Departments of Social Services are to
apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, they insist that there
is unanimous agreement by all of the residents. This means that
one or two residents who, perhaps unreasonably, refuse to give
their permission, can prevent a disabled person from getting access
to their flat and may ultimately force that person to move home.
I have been told by the
Disability Rights Commission, that there is nothing in the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 or the new regulations that are due
to come into force in October, that are relevant to this issue.
I was also told that there is a new disability bill that has been
introduced into Parliament, during this session. I would be interested
to know whether there is anything in the bill, which would help
in the above situation or whether, if not, a provision could be
added to the bill.
It seems to me that disabled
people, who need a stair-lift should be allowed to have one installed
as of right, provided that health and safety requirements are
complied with. This is arguably more important to such a person
than the access to supermarkets and other public buildings that
has already been the subject of legislation.
I would be interested
to hear your views on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Jean Sullivan
Advocate
Sefton Pensioners'
Advocacy Centre -
Registered Charity
No: 1055951
Working with Older
People throughout Sefton
|
