BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP - THURSDAY, 08 JULY 2004
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
ON THE CREATION OF A RAMP ACCESS TO THE LILLIPUT BRANCH OF BARCLAYS BANK
1. Purpose of the Report and Policy Context
1.1 To authorise the construction of a wheelchair access ramp to the Lilliput Branch of the Barclays Bank at Salterns Court, Sandbanks Road on an area of public highway.
1.2 Sections of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which become effective later this year, require the owners and occupiers of buildings to which the public has access to make their buildings as accessible as possible.
1.3 The Access Policy for Council Buildings states that the Council will do all that is reasonable to ensure that its building are made accessible and usable in line with its beliefs on equality of opportunity, to promote inclusion and to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
1.4 It is appropriate to support the owners and occupiers of other buildings to which the public has access when they seek to make their buildings accessible.
2. Recommendations
2.1 It is recommended that in respect of the Lilliput Branch of Barclays Bank at Salterns Court, Sandbanks Road:-
a) The details of the proposed access ramp be advertised on site in accordance with Section 115G of the Highways Act 1980 and that, subject to the satisfactory resolution of any representations received, authorisation be given under Section 115B of the Highways Act 1980.
b) A licence be granted to the Bank to maintain the ramp and handrails.
And for future applications :-
c) Authority to consider similar applications for structures on the highway be delegated to the Head of Transportation Services, subject to any objections being considered by the Transportation Advisory Group.
3. Background
3.1 Public access to the bank is currently by means of steps from Sandbanks Road. This renders the building and its facilities inaccessible to wheelchair users and others who find steps difficult.
3.2 Plans are currently being prepared by the Bank for an internal refurbishment to improve facilities for customers.
3.3 As part of the refurbishment it is proposed to modify the entrance and construct a ramp to give step-free access to the building. In addition to the ramp access the steps will be repositioned and provided with handrails. The general layout of the ramp is shown in Appendix A.
3.4 The proposals were the subject of a planning application, 04/18692/003/F. Planning consent was granted on 4 May 2004.
3.5 The area that would be occupied by the ramp is public highway. Section 115B of the Highways Act 1980 gives the Council the power to place objects or structures in, on or over a highway for the purpose of providing a service for the benefit of the public or a section of the public. The proposed ramp will satisfy these criteria.
3.6 This legislation also covers who will undertake future maintenance of such a structure. As the ramp is for the sole purpose of providing gives access to the bank, the licence will stipulate that this should be the responsibility of Barclays Bank.
3.7 Section 115G of the Highways Act 1980 requires that a Council shall not exercise this power without first publishing a notice, to be displayed in a prominent position on site and served on the owner and occupier of any premises appearing to be likely to be materially affected, giving a period of not less than 28 days for those affected to make representations.
4. Highway Implications
4.1 The existing footway in front of the Bank varies is approximately 3.0m wide. Construction of the ramp will reduce the width available to approximately 1.8m, reducing further to 1.65m over a short length.
4.2 There is an existing lamp column on the corner of Sandbanks Road and Salterns Way which, when the ramp is constructed, will present an obstruction to pedestrian traffic using the narrowed footway. The Bank have indicated that they will relocate the column as part of the works
5. Financial Implications
5.1 The cost of issuing the licence, the works ( including the relocation of the lamp column ), and the subsequent maintenance of the ramp will be met by the Bank.
6. Future Applications
6.1 Many buildings, especially shops and banks, are currently completely inaccessible to certain sections of the community due to the sole means of access being by means of steps.
6.2 Sections of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which become effective later this year require the owners and occupiers of buildings to which the public has access to make their buildings as accessible as possible.
6.3 In many cases, minor adjustments to building frontages or adjacent public highway will be sufficient to allow a level access to be created. In certain cases, however, the only way of creating a level access is to provide a ramp structure. Applications will only be considered if there is no other alternative in achieving this access without affecting the public highway.
6.4 It is expected that the number of applications likely to be received for approval to construct a structure on the public highway during the course of the next few years will increase.
6.5 As part of this report it is recommended that delegated authority be given to the Head of Transportation Services to consider applications and, subject to the provisions of Section 115B of the Highways Act 1980, either give approval or bring to this Group for consideration any objections following advertisement.
JAMES T BRIGHT
Head of Transportation Services
APPENDIX A – PROPOSED RAMP - LAYOUT
Background Papers Nil
Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact
Andy Norwood (01202) 262042
TAG080704T3H
PLEASE NOTE APPENDICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY PLEASE CONTACT DEMOCRATIC SERVICES ON 01202 633026
21 June 2004
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