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A shock . . . but only a hiccup
The decision of Morrisons and Sainsbury’s to withdraw from the Baywatch Awards at the last minute was a profound disappointment.
The timing could not have been worse and contrasted strongly with the mood of the meeting at the Palace of Westminster, which saw new retailers urged to join the partnership.
At least Sainsbury’s have reaffirmed their commitment to the Baywatch Campaign and say that they are using their “year out” to focus on improvements in facilities for disabled people, but the belated arguments from Morrisons are harder to stomach.
This is, however, only a temporary hiccup for Baywatch. With the support of Scope’s “Time to Get Equal Campaign” we intend to broaden its scope, involving new retailers and developing our links with local authorities.
The last survey showed that, while the overall level of bay abuse remains appallingly high, an increasing number of stores have eradicated it almost entirely. If one store can do it, they all can, and while we are keen to highlight and reward good practice, we are forthright in our message that disabled people have a right to expect facilities that meet their needs.
Those store managers who continue to neglect the issue may find that they are soon defending their actions in court, with disabled people claiming their rights under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Have your say Decision time is fast approaching on the merger between the
DDA and the DDMC. Next month members will have the opportunity to give their views and vote on the proposal to merge. Both groups of trustees believe that
the case for merger is compelling, with the opportunity to remove unnecessary duplication and build a unified organisation that can focus on the issues that really
matter to disabled drivers and passengers. But the final decision is yours. The vote in June will not be as momentous as the one on May 5 – but both will affect
disabled people and we urge you to participate fully in the democratic process.
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