Is it illegal to ban a wheelchair user from a community centre

[bundleone]

I work as a volunteer at a community centre serving teas and coffees, we have a regular customer who comes in wheeling his wheelchair hjmself, it is on the flat with no obsticles in the way,he pays for his coffee and we take it ouside to a table where he can have a smoke,
We now have a new president of the centre and today he told the customer he cannot come in any more, surely this can't be right. how does the law stand here?

[Maydup]

What was the reason for not letting him in any more? I can't understand why anyone would do that and whether or not its legal would depend on this reason I suppose.

But unless he's been abussive or something I can't see how you could ban him.

[ixion]

On what grounds is the customer refused entry?

[Jemisa]

I don't think there are any laws as such. BUT It could be for health and safety reasons, they may not be insured for a wheelchair user, if there was a fire he could be trapped.
Evidently your new president is a proper 'Jobsworth'

jem

[starone]

I think you will find he is breaking the law in banning a wheelchair user. In fact doorways have to be widened and ramps put in to accommodate them. I am not absolutely sure of my facts, so would need to look them up but in any case he is certainly breaking a moral law.

[karenmac60]

If he has caused trouble and is being barred because of that then I don't suppose it would be illegal. Otherwise it would appear to be illegal.
http://www.direct.gov...lityRights/DG_4001068
Is it a council run community centre?

[bundleone]

Banned purely for being in a wheelchair, I wasn't there at the time, but was told it was a potential hazzard. The new president is making up his own rules it seems.

[welshlibranr]

So are you saying that he can't smoke there anymore?..............

[ChuckFickens]

Hope your new president has got a good lawyer.

[karenmac60]

I think in that case it is the community centre's responsibility to ensure they have wheelchair access. I know we had to have a lot of work done when the new laws came into force and I know of at least one business that closed down because their premises were upstairs and they couldn't afford to have a lift installed.

[Buenchico]

If the ban is because of the fact that the customer uses a wheelchair, it's unlawful. See pages 42 onwards of this document (from the Equality & Human Rights Commission):
http://www.equalityhu..._community_sector.pdf
(Some places can prohibit wheelchairs, or limit their numbers, on legitimate health and safety grounds. e.g. because of evacuation difficulties in the event of a fire. But such circumstances would normally only apply to places like historic buildings, where it's impossible to find a way around the problem, rather than to places like community centres).

However that doesn't prevent a ban on grounds that would apply to other users of the centre, if the circumstances were the same. For example, when I worked on the railways, we barred a wheelchair-bound guy from travelling because of his personal hygiene problems. Similarly, when I worked in a pub, we barred a customer in a wheelchair because of his foul language and aggressive conduct.

Chris

[237SJ]

He`s breaking the law under the Equality Act and could be prosecuted

[starone]

He certainly can't smoke inside but I have just had a look on google and he definitely cannot stop him coming in to the community centre. I cannot type the whole thing but he is not allowed to discriminate against wheelchair users. New law in 2010.

[Buenchico]

Another link from the EHRC:
http://www.equalityhu...-for-disabled-people/

[bundleone]

We have a wide automatic door and he could get out as quickly as anyone on two legs if nessesary.We do have a couple of other wheelchair users, one comes in with a carer, so we will have to see whats going to happen.
thank you all for your answers.

[starone]

Thanks Chris. You are much more efficient than me and that link covers the lot.

[Maydup]

Oh dear, what is a guy like him doing running a Community Centre? The whole principle of comminuty is about improving neighbourliness. He is so out of touch and should be making it easier for the guy in the wheelchair not harder.

Please, please keep serving the guy and complain to the council about the ban.

[wildwood]

Surely a Community Centre manager can not be that dim?

While the majority of wheelchair users are just normal civil people, I have also encountered the odd arrogant twit who uses the wheelchair to purposely bump into others to get to the front of the line etc. and loudly demands special privileges because of the disability. Just because someone has a disability doesn't mean they automatically become civil people.

Maybe it is something like that.

[bundleone]

We will ignore the ban, and show him the printout provided by you.He has only been the president for about three weeks.

[bundleone]

Nothing like that Wildwood, perfectly nice man, just can't walk.

[wildwood]

Well, in that case bundleone, bundle the manager into a wheelchair and tie him in it. See how he likes being banned.

Good on yer all for ignoring the ban. See how much interest the Media will take if he tries to reprimand anyone for neglecting his apparently stupid ruling.