Protest over lack of disabled access to 'Civic Pride' pavilion

4.59.27pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Protest over lack of disabled access to 'Civic Pride' pavilion

Local disabled residents have protested to the council about very poor access for disabled people to the new cricket pavilion on Twickenham Green, shortly to be opened by the Duke of Wessex. One resident who approached the builders was told that there was no ramp planned but 'disabled people could come in through the kitchen!' The pavilion is being supported by the council as part of its 'civic pride' programme.

Vincent Cable said that he was "very concerned at this serious oversight. Quite apart from statutory obligations, there should now be enough sensitivity to the needs of the disabled to ensure that this kind of oversight should not have occurred. This risks become civic embarrassment rather than civic pride".