On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 21:36:03 +0000, a particular chimpanzee named
parish parish_AT_ntlworld.com randomly hit the keyboard and
produced:

Hugo Nebula wrote:

For new-builds, there are requirements that at least one entrance door
(ideally, the one closest to the parking) is wide enough for a
wheelchair and has a level threshold.

Another piece of blanket legislation that, seemingly, has no scope for
flexibility to allow it to be applied sensibly in a given situation.

Does he know if any of those friends or relatives will never find
themselves in a wheelchair? Is he or they immune to disease or
accidents? What about the people who live in the house after him?
For significant periods of their lives a great many people are
disabled by a lack of reasonable access to 'conventionally designed'
dwellings, such as mothers with push chairs, temporary disability or
even old age. The requirements for access to dwellings are there to
allow more people the freedom to leave their own house and visit
others.

There is flexibility in the Approved Document for split level houses
and those on steep sites.
--
Hugo Nebula
"You know, I'd rather see this on TV,
Tones it down" - Laurie Anderson