DARTFORD: Wheelchair user to help improve theatre's disabled access (From News Shopper)

DARTFORD: Wheelchair user to help improve theatre's disabled access

7:00am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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A PARAPLEGIC man who threatened a theatre with legal action is to have a say in improving disabled access to its newly-opened restaurant.

Wayne Evans, who is wheelchair-bound, wanted to dine at The Circle Restaurant at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford but was left disappointed after finding there was no access for disabled people.

The theatre set up a table for him in the downstairs foyer and bar area, but Mr Evans, from Joydens Wood, refused point-blank to eat there.

After writing a formal complaint, Mr Evans, 58, has now been invited to sit on the theatre’s access forum, which will start in April and be an opportunity for disabled people to have input on access to the venue.

In a response to Mr Evans, theatre director Andrew Hill said: “It is certainly not our intention to discriminate against disabled visitors in any way and for this reason, we currently offer the same menu and table service in the lower bar as we do in the upper area.

“We do, however, now recognise that dining in the lower area is a different experience from that in the upper, mainly by way of location.

“At the time of the improvements this summer we did investigate the options for reasonable adjustments within the theatre but it was not possible to make this area accessible then.”

Mr Evans, who was left paralysed from the chest down following a motorcycle accident five years ago, said the theatre’s lack of access breaches the Disability Discrimination Act but is pleased by the theatre’s reaction to his complaint.

He said: “I found it very encouraging.

“We are meeting next week to chat about how to solve it.

“We should be able to have the same enjoyment as other patrons of the theatre.

“That’s the crux of the whole matter.

“To put me downstairs on my own was a bit silly, because I’m not getting the same facilities as everyone else.”