Malcolm,
Where would that leave your role Malcolm, and the valueable expertise you have
developed in your joint role?
Dorothy
Malcolm Crate (28/10/2005 08:23):
>Hi All,
>Naziaty asks some important questions but I thought I would comment on one.
>I don't believe that Building Control Officers or Planners have the powers
>to carry the torch of accessibility and we know that many Access Officers
>(like me) are Building Control Officers with the designation given to them
>as a small part of their job. This means that their role is constantly
>blurred by the tensions caused by wanting to encourage best practice while
>only being able to enforce minimum standards.
>However I strongly believe , what I think was discussed by Rob Imrie in one
>of his many papers on the subject: that Local Authorities should provide the
>context and resources to enable accessible environments to be created.
>Therefore I believe that it should be the responsibility for every LA to
>employ a proffessional full time Access Officer to act as a link between
>Developer/designer , the statutory authority providing consents and
>importantly local Access Groups. This would place the Access Champion
>(Access Officer) in an independent and perhaps more objective position.
>Best wishes
>Malcolm Crate
>Access, Building Standards and Housing Grants Manager
>Department for Sustainable Communities
>Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
>01851709325
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Naziaty Mohd Yaacob [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 28 October 2005 00:17
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [ACCESSIBUILT] Building Design Article
>
>
>Thanks for bringing up the issue. I would like to
>add/ask the following;
>
>I think if one could imagine an Access Champion taking
>the 'torch of accessibility/inclusive design' and
>carrying it throughout the whole
>design/construction/management process from inception
>to post occupancy, one could also see many people
>(with different designation) changing hands and taking
>hold of that role of an Access Champion.
>
>How does one see to it that implementation is being
>carried out and sustained to completion? Does the
>Access Strategy translate directly to the Access
>Statement / Design Statement and then straight to
>Detailed Design?
>
>Is the DDA being left to interpretations by the term 'reasonable
>adjustments', where decisions could be made to accomodate all sorts of
>views, including the "design signature" of an architect?
>
>Does the answer lie within the planning and building
>control function? Should there be an Access Officer in
>every planning and building department in all local
>councils to coordinate with the Access Consultant and
>Access Groups (Advisory Group), and to make sure the
>'torch of accessibility/inclusive design' is carried
>throughout the process. Are there any other ways?
>
>Perhaps, that would settle the 'building' part of the
>process but what about the 'management and services'
>part, where the service provider takes over?
>
>I suppose if we get it right in the first place with
>the building part of the process, a big percentage of
>accessibility/inclusive design is being achieved.
>
>But in the case of historic buildings, it may not be
>as straight-forward as that, as so many times it is
>being stated that the DDA does not over-ride the
>conservation legislation, that refers to PPG 15.
>
>It looks like the natural Access Champion is the
>Architect. But I have asked one architect in an
>interview and he stated that, "Architects have to
>champion many things..."
>
>Perhaps, architects may be waiting for a "Social
>Architecture" revival (that emerged in the 60s), but I
>think it is here already, with the expectation of
>using user groups in the design process. I think there
>may be a reluctance to accept this way of designing. I
>may be wrong, but...
>
>Hope this adds to the forum.
>
>From:
>
>Naziaty Yaacob (Ms)
>PhD Candidate - Topic on "Accessibility to Historic
>Buildings"
>SURFACE Inclusive Design Research Centre
>The University of Salford
>SCPM Maxwell Building
>Salford M5 4WT
>
>Tel: 0161 295 5279
>Mobile: 07734881287
>Email:[log in to unmask]
>Web:www.inclusive-design.it
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________
>Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
>http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>----------End of Message----------
>
>Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the
>distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
>
>http://www.inclusive-design.it
>
>Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
>http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>
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>Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance
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