Lib Dems get disabled access high on agenda

12.00.00pm GMT Tue 23rd Mar 2004

After six years of campaigning, the Liberal Democrats at County Hall have succeeded in convincing Surrey County Council to undertake urgent work to make its properties "disabled friendly". The County Council has approved a Liberal Democrat motion that puts disabled access high on the County Council's priorities. A report recently commissioned by the County Council highlighted the current situation of the County's public buildings.

Councillor Hazel Watson said, "I am very pleased that the County Council voted my motion through. Especially because, at the moment, only about one third of the County Council buildings open to the public are accessible to disabled people.

The Lib Dems are concerned not only about the unfairness that this lack of access means for Surrey's disabled people, but also about the consequences when new disability access legislation comes into force this autumn and the Council may be at risk of being fined."

She added, "I hope the Conservative administration will be acting upon this matter soon. I suggest they take on board the Liberal Democrats' capital budget proposals to allocate £2 million to improve access for disabled people to the County Council's buildings".