Act yet to take West End by storm

New government figures suggest the Disability Discrimination Act has improved access to goods and services. But Pip Raymond-Cox, former Lady Mayoress of Westminster, says there is still much more to do

Some ten years ago, I became Westminster City Council’s first disabled Lady Mayoress – I am a permanent wheelchair-user – which gave me no power but a degree of influence. The Queen gave me an MBE for my work for physically disabled people and until 2004 my husband was Westminster’s lead member on disability issues.

Today, wheelchair access in theatres and cinemas often remains inadequate. For example, the Haymarket cinema, in London’s West End and owned by Cineworld, has no wheelchair facilities.

As Lady Mayoress, I told the John Lewis store in Oxford Street that one of their entrance doors was too heavy to be opened by anyone in a wheelchair, with a pram or buggy, or carrying big heavy parcels.

These have now been changed to doors that open automatically. But very heavy doors still exist widely in shops, banks, post offices and other public buildings – even inside Westminster Council House.

As Lady Mayoress, I had to tell the chief executive officer of Selfridges (store pictured) that counters were too high for someone in a wheelchair.

The disabled lavatory was sited unhelpfully far from the entrance.

And although Selfridges had put in disabled lifts, they had not adequately signposted their existence in the store.

Lack of adequate signage was widespread. At St Paul’s Cathedral – in the City of London – I had to point this out to the Dean. It has now been corrected.

I also urged Westminster’s many hotels to follow the example of the Mount Royal near Marble Arch, where six bedrooms were converted so that they had wooden floors, wide doors and lowered washbasins. These proved so popular and sent occupation rates up so significantly that the hotel has converted more rooms.

There are many dropped kerbs, but still not enough, and some, although dropped, still have too big a step.

Few hairdressers cope with people in wheelchairs, because their equipment is fixed, but it is possible to buy mobile wash-basins and dryers that can be moved to the wheelchair.

There is also a severe shortage of accessible parking spaces. Because some people use them illegally, we need more spaces and much more rigorous enforcement. This shortage is especially marked near hospitals (eg St Mary's, Paddington).

I have lost count of how many times people came up to me and said: “Lady Mayoress, I'm so sorry – I did not think.” And they continue to say such things to this day.

It is now over 10 years since the Disability Discrimination Act became law. We have come a long way since then but we clearly still have a long way to go.