Commission protests lack of access to wheelchair shop

martin saliba

May 15th 2008, 18:55

While i genuinely sympathize with people with any form of disability i wish to point out that the authorities are sometimes unfair with those who are " not disabled ". For instance, a reserved parking in Gzira. The driver is not disabled, the son is. If the driver needs the reserved parking to facilitate the boarding of the disabled person i would understand, but i have lived in this street for about 20 years and i have never seen the disabled person in the car. In fact this person has a slight mobility problem but still goes to work in Valletta by bus and back of course. The bus stop which he has to get to ,to board the bus is about 600 meters from where he lives. I once followed him and i swear that if i had any problem walking that day he would have beaten me had it been a race to the bus stop. Now NCPD please tell me if this is justified. I know of another in sliema with no mobility problems in the household. The problem is that one cannot check to see if the reserved spaces are warranted or not because of the data protection act. Can someone from NCPD explain. I give my permission to the moderator of this site to give my phone number or email address to anyone who might want more specifics regarding the two reserved spaces that i mentioned., but i won't hold my breath waiting.

mario debono

May 15th 2008, 18:09

Although I have every sympathy with people with disabilities, yet their commission is not being very proactive when development applications for sites where it is not possible to cater for disabled access are tabled. Frequently, I have come across situations where the body responsible for disabled access refuses permission without resorting to common sense. I have been to Barcelona where, because some shops cannot be adapted with ramps, notices are placed declaring that the premises are not accessible to persons with special needs. This is a two way thing. KNPD should stop insisting that ALL premises should be accessible. Where it is not economically feasible to do so, or where it is physically impossible to install ramps, a notice should be placed. I again submit that i have every respect for their needs, but they should in turn respect ours

Louise Vella

May 15th 2008, 16:48

It is also important that when these outlets abide by the law and make a ramp so that persons like ourselves can access the premises, the ramp is not too steep and does not have slippery tiles.

And, while we are at it, DO NOT park on parking spaces reserved for the disabled, not even if you leave the car engine on, or switch on the hazard lights... If you do not have mobility problems, then walk. It does you good!

Alfred Grima

May 15th 2008, 15:44

Does the National Commission Persons with Disability knows that St Paul's Bay Local Council is in a similar situation?
Are we asking to much from the said Local Council to ensure that the Equal Opportunities Act will be respected?

Ian Sammut Dacoutros

May 15th 2008, 15:27

Erm, ironic though!!!

I am shuddering at the thought of the sheer ridicule of this situation!!! A person with a disability should have access to all places; that is basic; but to have access to an establishment like this causes one to think. An enterprise should be primarilly about providing a service, now that service one would hope is something that the enterprise owner / operator believes in and not just a method of making money. Naturally people go into business to make money but if it is something like the organisation in this example it should be bout more!!!

I am saddened to think that is actually happened! I am also saddened even more to certain places still being inaccessable, cinemas, shops and even the university canteen!!!

Oh we have so much to learn.