Accessibility goal ‘cannot be met’
A report says a 2015 goal of all public buildings being disability-friendly is bound to be missed because it will cost too much
A DEADLINE of January 2015 for making all buildings open to the public accessible to the disabled “cannot possibly be met”, an official report states.
The goal, set in a 2005 law, “is impossible in the current economic and budgetary context” because of the “large amount of work to be done”, says the assessment by official watchdogs for social affairs, the environment and government finances.
With less than two years and four months to go, only 15% of buildings meet satisfactory standards.
The president of the Association des Paralysés de France, Jean-Marie Barbier, said: “The conclusions are painful [to read].”
The report, which has just been made public, suggests maintaining the 2015 date “so as to keep up the pressure”, but changing the goal to “intermediate accessibility”.
This might mean, for example, a café putting in a ramp that is too steep to meet correct standards, but better than just steps; or mairies could make sure main desks are accessible but put off the task for meeting rooms.
Disabled People’s Minister Marie-Arlette Carlotti has agreed with the “intermediate” goal, adding she deplored the fact the report was commissioned by the last government and delivered almost a year ago but not publicised.
Photo: Gina Sanders
