I WONDER if your readers are aware of the discrimination that is being carried out daily against myself and several other members of the community in the town centre.

It is carried out by well-known and respected businesses. It prevents me from going shopping, applying for a mortgage and even saving for the future.

It singles me out as different from anybody else and embarrasses me and my family in the street; it puts me at risk of physical injury.

Why am I discriminated against you ask? I am not gay, female or a member of an ethnic community.

Because I am a wheelchair user. Allow me to explain.

The much-praised bus service using accessible transport, does not and has no plans to facilitate a journey to the Trafford Centre until demand is high enough, so disallowing me from shopping. Access to several shops and businesses in the centre is blocked by either doors which are impossible to open unaided, or steps that cannot be negotiated.

You might think St Helens town centre is fully accessible, but when three building societies were asked why they didnt provide wheelchair access, their reply was that the council wouldnt give planning permission for ramps to be fitted.

Councillor Rimmer is reported as saying that this council has a duty to protect those who need help most. Does that also include wheelchair users?

WHEELCHAIR user (name and address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.