Equality scheme targets 'missed'

A disability rights group has accused Powys Council of ignoring problems affecting people with mobility problems. Brecknock Access Group claimed the council's disability equality scheme (DES) committee had not met for a year and targets had not been hit. It has written to councillors and other politicians in south Powys to complain about this and other issues.

Powys Council said it was making a "robust action plan" over the issue. But it admitted that its DES panel had not met for a year and had failed to publish its annual report. In its letter to politicians, the Brecknock Access Group highlighted a number of cases where there had been access problems.

It said it had contacted the authority in 2005 about homes for the elderly in Ystradgynlais where first-floor tenants had become "trapped" and "unable to go out" because they were unable to use the stairs.

The group said this problem had not been solved. It also accused the council of not properly publicising its clear pavement policy in Hay-on-Wye so blind people and those in wheelchairs could use paths in safety.

The group's chair John Phillips said: "The council's DES review panel, set up to implement the scheme has not met since 28 February last year, all the targets set for actions to be completed during 2007 have been missed, and an annual report - required by the legislation - which should have been published last December has not appeared."

A council spokesman said: "Equalities, which the DES is an important element of, is firmly on the council's aim high agenda and demonstrates a positive commitment by the council. We are investing time and resources in putting proper foundations in to enable progress to be made on the equalities agenda, but this has meant that actions have been delayed on the DES scheme."

He said an annual report had not been published because the council was preparing a "robust action plan", which will go before the governing board next month.