Letter: The blind kept waiting

Sir: On 12 January 1995 the Department of the Environment published a consultation paper proposing to extend Part M of the building regulations covering the provision of new residential dwellings. This proposed extension would compel house-builders to incorporate disabled access features in all new-build dwellings.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind welcomed the paper and made additional recommendations to ensure that such new-build housing should be accessible not just in terms of wheelchair users, but also for tenants with sensory disabilities, including blind and partially sighted people.

Two years have passed and there has been no indication from the DoE as to the timetable for this extension of part M. In the meantime, many disabled people, including those with a visual impairment, continue to live in inaccessible accommodation.

IAN BRUCE

Director General

Royal National Institute for the Blind

London W1