By Alan Wilson

DUNDEE COMMERCIAL outlets which continue to flout disability laws and don’t provide adequate access and facilities for people with special requirements are being warned that tough action will be taken against them.

City disabled group 5Digits say that while they have had some notable recent successes in their battle to get businesses to provide proper disabled toilets, ramps and better access to their premises, others continue to frustrate them.

John Mitchell, a former Dundee Citizen of the Year, and Moira Ogilvie, who run the group, say the intervention of the city council’s licensing board has been crucial in persuading some pubs, restaurants and shops in Broughty Ferry to do something to improve their disabled provision.

Superdrug, the Taychreggan Hotel, the Anchor Inn, Jolly’s, Doc Ferry’s, the Eagle Inn, the Royal Arch, McPherson’s Chemist and Visocchi’s are among the businesses John and Moira say have either improved or are improving their facilities.

“The Royal Bank of Scotland in Brook Street has also come up with quite a few designs, but ironically the city council planning department have blocked their plans,” John said.

“It’s like a Catch 22 situation for us. We’re now fighting the council over this. The planning department keep moving the goalposts.

“The Scottish Executive ruled against the council but they appealed and it’s now ground to a halt.

“We’re still talking to The Ferry Inn and just today they have confirmed that they are going to take action to provide a disabled toilet and improve access into the pub, so that’s good news.

“The bottom line is that if businesses don’t improve their facilities they will be reported to the licensing board and when their licences come up for renewal they will be warned they have to take action or face the possibility of losing their licence.

“We’re not scared to give bad publicity to the premises that don’t comply, but our main aim is to visit them and show them that we don’t have horns, we’re just trying to ensure that people with certain needs can enjoy the same facilities as everyone else.”

Moira added, “People have to realise that one day it could be them or their families who are in this position.

“But it’s not just business premises. Taxis and buses are problems, although Travel Dundee have been brilliant and all their buses comply with the legislation.

“But the taxis are still a big problem. You can’t order a disabled taxi in Dundee because the firms say they can’t guarantee they will have a disabled access taxi in the area at any given time.

“I used to work in a taxi office myself and the drivers used to refuse to pick up disabled fares.”

The pair have produced a DVD called Access and Attitudes, and John said, “If you change attitudes then the improved access will follow.”

John and Moira say they have been working closely with the licensing board to get several Dundee premises moving.

They also provide awareness training for new taxi drivers, work with the police on testing new taxicab designs and also work on the Duncan anti-crime project.

A spokesperson for the city council said, “The 5Digits group has been talking to both the licensing board and the licensing committee about access issues for licensed premises and taxis.

“In relation to their concerns for taxis, there is a new consultation about to take place with the taxi trade in the city and the issue of moving towards a taxi fleet with 100% compliance for disability is one that will be discussed.”