I hate to say this but, shouldn't the developer or/and architect taken into
consideration the fact that wheelchair an impaired mobility access issues
should be part of their design? Furthermore, the surgery being above ground
level, means that a lift be built into the design.
I am being very cynical here, but I suspect the developer or
owner/leaseholder are trying a fast one, maybe so that once the building is
put up, they apply for a grant or financial support etc to install a lift,
rather than include the lift in the cost of the building. That old often
heard lame excuse, that only young people live in the area, should clobbered
straight on the head with, Ok, so what happens if someone is disabled due to
an accident, or a parent has a disabled child?
If this is a planning proposal being put up for acceptance, stand your
ground and get them to try and justify why they should NOT fit a lift in the
building! A hydraulic lift as made by someone like Phoenix Lifts, is
considerably less than the traditional cable tethered OTIS type lift, and
someone should point the developer/owner/leaseholder or health authority in
their direction.
Sam Chapman
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