Accessibility on campus

I refer to the article "Judicial protests against university and army" (November 27).

As space at Student's House is limited, plans are underway to develop the building by adding two storeys. When the application for an extension of Student's House was submitted on April 15, 2002, the university took care to ensure access not only to the building as it is today but for all future development of Student's House. This was achieved by incorporating a lift to render the whole building fully accessible.

Following the Commission for Persons with Disability's first report on the submitted plans, amended plans and the additional information requested were submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The commission's second report, dated July 23, confirmed that the revised plans submitted by Mepa were approved by the commission.

The university is now awaiting Mepa's approval for the development permit. Once the permit is issued, the university will be in a position to programme the works accordingly and to set a timeframe.

The university takes access for the disabled most seriously. In the course of the recent extension projects on university buildings, as well as in new buildings, lifts, ramps and railings have been incorporated to provide access to the new floors as well as to the existing floor levels. Sanitary facilities for persons with special needs are also being included in the designs.

This year the university commissioned an accessibility audit for all the university's buildings and outdoor areas. This comprised a report on the degree of accessibility of the university's building with respect to the parameters set in the access for all design guidelines and streets for all published by the commission.

Some of the recommendations made in the report have already been implemented, whereas a programme of works is being finalised for the implementation of the actions recommended in the said report, designed to provide a fully accessible environment at the University of Malta campus.