DISABLED rights campaigners have been left ‘unhappy’ after learning conservation rights will prove an obstacle to improved wheelchair access at an historic bank.

Blackburn councillor Roy Davies and Elderly Forum Chairman Brian Todd said they “do not understand” why adequate disabled access to the Grade II-listed Lloyds TSB building on Astley Gate has not been prioritised.

Mr Davies, whose wife is wheelchair-bound, experienced difficulty in getting to the bank on a recent visit.

He wants to have two lamp-posts that block the pavement adjoining the bank’s disabled access at the rear of the premises on Fleming Square moved, or have uneven cobbles on the road between the building and the opposite pavement replaced with Tarmac.

After meeting with council officers to discuss improvements, he said he was not certain that anything could be done due to the Listed Buildings and Conservations Act 1990, which protects the 1830s facade and the Cathedral area in which it stands.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has said that it will continue to look at legal ways to resolve the issue but said that it has so far received no other complaints. Mr Davies said: “I don’t understand why there is no loophole in the Act to prioritise disabled access in certain situations.

“I think if disabled people were asked for their views the council might find it’s a larger issue than it appears.

“We live in the 21st century so you’d think that greater attention was paid to disabled access rights. I hope they find a way to at least make the cobbles less dangerous as someone in a wheelchair could easily fall out.”

Mr Todd, who has been campaigning for greater elderly and disabled rights in Blackburn, said: “Cobbles look lovely but but aren’t great if you are in a wheelchair.

“I think people should consider if safeguarding cobbles over ensuring safety is really the most practical thing to do.”

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for regeneration, said: “Our officers have been to visit the site with Mr Davies to have a look at the issues that have been raised.

“We will talk to Mr Davies again, but as it is a conservation area it is hard to make any changes to the cobbles.

“We remain in contact with the bank to discuss any issues that may arise out of this and are looking at similar issues with Darwen Street.”

No-one from the bank was available to comment.