Barclays plan change of access to help disabled

SUPPORT has been given for a plan to provide access for people with disabilities to Barclays Bank s Royston branch. The move comes almost a year after a pensioners campaign to have an access provided for disabled people at the High Street bank. The propo

SUPPORT has been given for a plan to provide access for people with disabilities to Barclays Bank's Royston branch.

The move comes almost a year after a pensioners' campaign to have an access provided for disabled people at the High Street bank.

The proposal will see the existing steps outside the Grade II listed building removed and a lowering of the lobby floor.

Plans include, too, the inclusion of a wheelchair hoist in the bank.

Barclays has been undertaking a review of its premises and the need for access for people with disabilities at the Royston branch was raised during the exercise.

In a design statement, Barclays recognised that the branch did not meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

And the design statement said: "The scheme represents a major investment in the provision for improved access.

"Given the constraints of the building and it location, the work represents a good compromise between conservation and access concerns."

Royston Town Council's planning committee gave its support to the scheme on Monday evening.