Buggies "too big" to get into shops

A Disabled man said he can no longer shop at W H Smiths because he cannot get his mobility scooter into the new store in Derby. Ken Pollard used to shop at the W H Smith store in Westfield Derby, formerly the Eagle Centre, every week.But the 81-year-old said he had been unable to use the shop since it opened in its new premises in London Road in January.

"I was absolutely disgusted. Access for disabled people is meant to be compulsory so I couldn't believe it," said Mr Pollard, of Ness Walk, Allestree.

The store is below the London Road street level and is reached by steps or a lift.But Mr Pollard said the lift was too small.

"I went to get in the lift but it looked too small and there is a sign saying big mobility scooters weren't allowed in the shop."

Mr Pollard, who suffers from arthritis in his feet, making it painful to walk, said the lift was only 51ins wide while his scooter needed 52ins.

Store manager James Scattergood said the single entrance was only temporary. "When the Westfield Derby extension opens in September we will have a normal entrance on to the main mall," said Mr Scattergood. "The lift does have a sign saying big scooters are not allowed, but we do have our own wheelchair that people can use and we are more than happy to help people if they need us to," he said.

Martin Austin, managing director of Derby disability consultancy Nimbus, said it was not an ideal situation. "The idea of the Disability Discrimination Act is about disabled people being able to access places as independently as someone who is not disabled," he said.

Mr Austin's company advises businesses in the city on the act. "In this case the lift does fall within the building regulations on access but it is about the smallest lift which is acceptable," he said. "I think the situation is far from ideal and is not best practice but it would appear people s may have to wait until the shop's second entrance opens later this year."