Marlow Post Office "beggars belief"

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Marlow Post Office “beggars belief”, wheelchair user tells council boss

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AN OUTRAGED wheelchair user has told council bosses they should never have allowed the new Marlow Post Office through the planning process.

Disability campaigners have hit out at the amenity in Institute Road which opened in February saying the step at the entrance makes it inaccessible and it goes counter to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The design of the building “beggars belief” Marlow resident Robin Whiffen has told Wycombe District Council chief executive Karen Setterford in a letter.

Mr Whiffen, of Chiltern Road, wrote: “It is now totally impossible for me and many others with severe mobility difficulties to visit any post office in Marlow.”

Although Wycombe District Council, which sub-leases the premises, has previously told the Free Press it is the Post Office's responsibility to have complied with the DDA, Mr Whiffen said: “As a public building used by the whole community, your planning officers...should have advised against allowing this building planning approval on the grounds of part M of the DDA.”

He has asked Mrs Setterford to revoke planning approval for the building “immediately” and urged action to be taken “as a matter of urgency”.

He said, despite the willingness of the staff who run the Post Office to help wheelchair users into the building, it is not an acceptable solution.

Marlow businessman Brian Murphy was also angered by the design and has written to Post Office chiefs.

Mr Murphy, who runs Pulsar Developments Ltd, in Dukes Place, has put forward a possible solution to the problem which he said would cost about £5,000.

He suggests using an 'electrically operated compact platform', similar to the system used in the Vodafone store in Marlow High Street.

Mr Murphy said it is existing technology and could be fitted quickly and easily preventing, what he says, is a “process of humiliation”.

Subpostmistress Mrs Soni said two viable options have now been identified but she is waiting for WDC and Post Office officials' advice before making a final decision on which one.

However, she said it would not be the same as the sloped ramp in the new information centre next door because the Post Office is too small.

WDC has said it should aim for something similar to this.

Mrs Soni had told the Free Press said she may be forced to close because they can not afford to make the necessary changes.

She said, although she is still not sure how it will be funded, she is more optimistic it will not have to shut.

Post Office bosses have said it could apply for up to £1,500 matched funding from its limited accessibility fund.

Mrs Soni believes WDC should pay for the changes.

WDC said it would be replying directly to Mr Whiffen this week.