PAUL HOLMES MP BACKS ACCESS CAMPAIGN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Oct 2006

Paul Holmes has added his name to a campaign seeking improved access to shops for disabled people in Chesterfield. Attending the Shop Access Action Day, organised by local disability campaign group ASPIRE, Mr Holmes called for shops to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and make adjustments to increase accessibility.

ASPIRE are a group of disabled campaigners from Leonard Cheshire West Street Resource Centre in Chesterfield, who are fighting for improved access to shops and businesses in the town centre. On two audit days in October, they found over 100 town centre shops and businesses were inaccessible.

Paul said "ASPIRE are clearly working very hard to raise awareness of shop accessibility issues, and I commend shops that have already taken steps to become more accessible. The Disability Discrimination Act is all well and good but it puts the onus on individuals and groups to put it into action. Thankfully ASPIRE are doing just that in Chesterfield."

Nadine Dart, one of the members of ASPIRE said: "Because of our campaigning, several shops have either improved or promised that they will improve their access to disabled people. As a wheelchair user, it felt great going into the Orange shop, who have recently installed a ramp in response to our demands."

ASPIRE is part of a network of Leonard Cheshire Campaign Action Groups, encouraging disabled people to come together and campaign on issues that affect them in their local communities.

Leonard Cheshire www.lc-uk.org exists to change attitudes to disability and to serve disabled people around the world. It has been supporting disabled people for almost 60 years and is active in 55 countries. The charity directly supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK. For press enquires, please telephone Lee Webster, Campaigns Co-ordinator on 07811 787352, or email lee.webster@lc-uk.org.