Arcadia faces disability access action
7 Jun 06
Stores have not done enough to make themselves accessible, says DRC
The Arcadia Group of clothing retailers is facing a legal challenge on the ground it has not made a store accessible to disabled customers.
The complaint, about a Burtons store in Derbyshire, has been brought by Joanne Holland, a 39-year-old wheelchair user who was not able to shop for presents because the shop is situated up stairs on the first floor of a building. A branch of Dorothy Perkins, another company in the same group, is on the ground floor.
The store offered to bring goods down to Ms Holland, but she did not think that was a reasonable alternative.
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is backing Ms Holland's action. A spokesperson for the Commission said the Arcadia Group, as one of the UK's largest clothing retailers, should be doing more for disabled customers. The DRC believes that other Arcadia shops such as Top Shop, Top Man, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans and Dorothy Perkins may also be breaking the law.
The case is expected to be heard within the next few months.