AS an elderly disabled person, dependent on a battery-operated "scooter" to get about, I find it is extremely difficult, and often impossible to use the pavements.

Where pavements have been lowered, I find they are often not dropped at the "other end," defeating any attempt to travel safely and using busy roads instead can be a nightmarish experience.

Yet imagine having to push a manually-operated wheelchair, up and off, and on to pavements. This for some partners or parents must be wearying.

Then we have the added problem of the dreaded "A-boards" plonked right in the middle of pavements. The council are abiding by laws - as G Smith (Letters, June 23) points out - which were made to benefit disabled people and to stop the constant claims for damages to blind persons and others, who, having stepped off pavements to avoid the boards, ended up being injured.

This law also covers "access" for the disabled, to shops, offices, banks etc.

Although with the exception of Boots, Marks and Spencer, Blakeys cafe (to name a few), in Blackburn, the General Post Office, Debenham's, banks, British Home Stores and some building societies, are not accessible.

Where are the people who complain to one another about these problems, but seem content to do just that?

They should be starting an action group to lobby Government, to ensure that the laws they make have sharper teeth, not pussy-footing about waiting for someone else to do it.

Or are they waiting until someone gets killed before they do act?

K WATSON, Peel Close, Blackburn.

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