Judge orders pay-out from bank

Sunil Peck

A bank that failed to provide wheelchair access for a disabled customer has been ordered by a court to install a platform lift and pay him compensation.

On one occasion, David Allen (pictured), aged 17, had to discuss his current account details outside the Royal Bank of Scotland's Church Street branch in Sheffield because he could not access the building.

The bank also suggested that Mr Allen use the nearest accessible RBS branch, which was around 10 miles away from his home.

Judge  Dowse of Sheffield County Court ruled that the Bank discriminated against Mr Allen by not providing physical access to wheelchair users in its Church Street branch, and that the bank made no serious attempts to make the branch accessible to wheelchair users as required under the law.

The judge granted Mr Allen an injunction ordering the bank to install wheelchair access at its Church Street branch.

RBS was also ordered to pay £6,500 to Mr Allen as compensation.

Mr Allen said that he was "glad" about the judge's decision. Commenting on his decision to take the case to court, he said: “I only wanted them to comply with the law and provide access so I could get into my bank like my friends."

Douglas Johnson, an advice worker at Sheffield Law Centre, who represented Mr Allen, said that the case was significant because it was the first time that an injunction had been granted  forcing a business to make physical adjustments to ensure that disabled people have equal access to their services.

Mr Johnson added: "This judgement shows the repeated failures of access were not just a series of errors; the judge found there was continuing discrimination which the bank refused to accept."

The case was supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. John Wadham, Group Director, Legal at the commission, said that disabled people would benefit from the precedent set by the case. He added: "When it comes to sensitive matters like our finances, we all value the discretion and security that Bank branches offer.  Why should a wheelchair user be denied this service when all that is needed is a little thought on behalf of a company?"

An RBS spokesman said that the bank "strongly disagrees" with the Court's Judgment and planned to appeal.

He said that the Bank was committed to meeting the requirements of its disabled customers and its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

He said that the bank had taken every possible step to meet Mr Allen's concerns over access to his branch, in full compliance with its legal obligations.