Post by elisabeth on Nov 25, 2015 7:03:20 GMT -5
I have had recent difficulties accessing a local M&S store. There is a internal ramped access from an adjoining Council Car Park which I used as a independent manual wheelchair user for many years without difficulty. Over the past 2 years M&S has acquired many more different types of trolley and they have stored them on the landing between 2 slopes, meaning there is not enough room to slow down and turn the corner to go down the second slope. I have spoken to various managers about it. after crashing into them on one occassion trying to get in and injuring myself and chair It was agreed that there should never be more than 2, so at least I have a clear bit to aim for. When I last attempted to get in the whiole wall was solid with trolleys so I could not enter until I got another customer to move them. He was told off by a staff health and safety member! The manager was new and couldnot care less patronising me and telling me that there was plenty of room to get past!
m&s customer services have been equally unhelpful, telling me it is safe! evenough Part M of the building regulations states that the 1.2m wide landing and the space immediately at the bottom of the slope should be kept free from all obstruction.
Most of the staff have been very helpful to me over the years but trolleys now form a physical barrier to me gaining entry. Short of taking legal action against them under the Equality Act there seems little I can do. Customer services stated they had sent their property team to measure, but one would assume not try to go down it independently in a manual self propelled wheelchair whose only slowing down mechanism is hands.M&s quote 3 feet clearance,which is fine on a level surface but not a stopping distance on a ramped area and certainly not in the relevent section of Part M.
No more shopping at M&S despite their delicous food. Most of there other stores become difficult to negotiate when they cram too many goods in prior to Christmas. I can only assume M&S do not want wheelchair users as customers.
m&s customer services have been equally unhelpful, telling me it is safe! evenough Part M of the building regulations states that the 1.2m wide landing and the space immediately at the bottom of the slope should be kept free from all obstruction.
Most of the staff have been very helpful to me over the years but trolleys now form a physical barrier to me gaining entry. Short of taking legal action against them under the Equality Act there seems little I can do. Customer services stated they had sent their property team to measure, but one would assume not try to go down it independently in a manual self propelled wheelchair whose only slowing down mechanism is hands.M&s quote 3 feet clearance,which is fine on a level surface but not a stopping distance on a ramped area and certainly not in the relevent section of Part M.
No more shopping at M&S despite their delicous food. Most of there other stores become difficult to negotiate when they cram too many goods in prior to Christmas. I can only assume M&S do not want wheelchair users as customers.