West Lothian Access Committee

The West Lothian Access Committee’s activities are based on the belief that the needs of people with disabilities, older people and carers of young children should be considered as an integral part of the design process and that by meeting these needs buildings will perform better for all users.

The West Lothian Access Committee aims

• To lower physical & attitudinal barriers by promoting co-ordinated and concerted action.
• To increase the awareness of the individual needs, abilities and aspirations of disabled people, in relation to design and development processes.
• Disability, may mean physical impairment, special needs, sensory impairment or mental illness.

These aims will be met through :

1. Encouragement of local access initiatives.
   
   
2. Giving focus to problems and key issues.
   
   
3. Promoting adequate finance for improvements.
   
   
4. Developing an updated and accurate access guide.

Improving Access does not just focus on a person with disabilities getting into or out of a facility without difficulty.

It also means that once inside a room, the person can participate in all the activities on offer.

Overcoming not only the physical barriers (steps, doorways) but also the attitudinal barriers (unhelpful staff and public ignorance).

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

• Promotion and maintenance of partnerships with disabled people and groups.

• Promotion and improvement of disabled persons access to existing and proposed development within West Lothian.

• Give comment on the weekly planning and building warrant list applications.

• Acting as a liaison organisation and co-ordinator on questions involving access for disabled persons.

Access Committee Membership

The majority of members of the Access Committee are individuals with direct experience of disability, who work closely with West Lothian Council’s Councillors and Officials, along with other agencies to achieve the highlighted aims.

Access Fund

Application can be made to the West Lothian Access Fund for financial assistance to improve disability access to publically used buildings in West Lothian.

Applications are considered from Private and Voluntary Organisations. The Fund is disbursed by West Lothian Council following the approval of applications submitted through the Access Committee.

Access Panels

As part of the Scottish Disability Equality Forum’s Access Panels Project, Robert Pickles the Development Officer has been examining the features which make good access panels across Scotland. Here in West Lothian he highlighted that the West Lothian Access Committee met the following areas of good practice :

• Good relationship with West Lothian Council
• Good relationship with local constituency of disabled people
• Communicates well
• Knowledge of relevant legislation
• Practical experience
• Effective and influential
• Good mix of members
• Meets regularly
• Works well as a volunteering organisation
• Willing to learn new skills
• Undertakes site visits, campaigns, audits, trains others etc
• Proactive as well as reactive

The West Lothian Access Committee during 2004 have actively been involved with a wide range of audits, consultations and awareness sessions to highlight what is good practice in Access to Goods and Services.

Access to Goods and Services

From 1 October 2004 the final access duties under Part 3 of the DDA covering access to goods, facilities and services were put in place.

Service providers in the private, public and voluntary sectors now need to take reasonable steps to remove, alter or provide a reasonable means of avoiding any physical feature of premises which makes access to a service impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people. Where no physical adjustments could be considered reasonable, a service provider can still meet his duties by providing a service by other means.

Access Audits

The West Lothian Access Committee continues to work closely with West Lothian Council and other agencies in designing and advising on public buildings to be as accessible to a wide range of users including people with mobility or sensory impairments, people with learning difficulties, those carrying luggage or shopping, parents with young children and older people.

People are complex and their needs cannot simply be itemised in an access audit checklist: for this reason our Audit Teams have the background of the legislative framework, design guidance and building management to make considered recommendations.

Consultations in 2004

• The Future for Buses and Taxis · Recommended minimum training standard for Staff assisting disabled people.
• Valuable for Anyone, Valuable for Everyone – providing accessible information about travel.
• Concessionary Fares.
• Transportation Provision for Disabled People in Scotland.
• NHS Scotland.
• Lifelong Learning and Social Inclusion.
• Integrated Transport Policy.
• Equality Policy.
• Voluntary Issue
  
  

The Scottish Building Standards Agency

The Scottish Building Standards Agency was set up in June 2004 to undertake the national functions relating to building standards. On 1st May 2005 a new building standards system will come into force in Scotland to provide a modern, flexible and responsive building standards system. The West Lothian Access Committee have been familiarising themselves with the New Technical Handbooks in preparation for the launch of the new system on 1st May 2005.