Its a bit like making all new cars have wheelchair access regardless of who is going to buy it
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.
- Charles de Gaulle
Its a bit like making all new cars have wheelchair access regardless of who is going to buy it
It's not all bad, a certain Kit Mfg, that I am a fan of, has redesigned all of there 'stock' houses to obviously include the ramp but also the interiors with something like 25% more floor area to allow for the wider corridors, doors etc and don't charge any more for them.
I see where you're coming from, but the building regulations have been here for years.
And they're generally there to meet certain standards of safety.
The inclusion of "accessibility" requirements is more modern.
If you wish to build a house, you legally have to meet these regulations. It's not a matter of choice.
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.
- Charles de Gaulle
having friends who through no fault of their own need wheelchairs, I would say ramps into houses are an excellent regulation and those that disagree should try living as a "wheelchair" person for a month and see how they survive the time.
One of the problems that my friends talkabout are the number of houses with unsuitable ramps which are so steep that the person needs help to use them, how legal are those?
Also never mind the ramps to houses, how many shops in Wick are wheelchair accessible? anyone with a wheelchair tried visiting the local takle shop in Wick? How about the banks? only the Royal Bank has a ramp.
Ours has proved to be hours of fun for the kids on their bikes. Also came in handy for getting a piano in!
As for the council saving money, well it is our money so they should try and find ways to save it.
So your doors have to be a bit wider, blimey that'll cost thousands. A ramp installed as part of a new build would only cost a couple of hundred quid extra, and out of what may be an £80 to £100k spend, is not going to screw your budget.
You don't know what's round the corner or coming in 10 or 20 years, or who else might want to buy your house. Or even you get to know someone who is disabled and they want to pop round ferra cuppa.
Once you've retired and your income is the state pension and you for, whatever reason, end up in a wheelchair. You will of course not say a word whilst you save up thousands to have your house retro fitted with new doors, rewired with repositioned switches and a ramp built. All the while your living in a tent 'cos you can't get in your house!
If yer building a new house then a wee bit of thought at design stage and you may negate the need ferra ramp.
So the Council insist you have a ramp for your new build house occupying able bodied people. The same body has council houses throughout the county with no disabled access-they no doubt take the cost of such ramps into consideration and only supply them on a "as need basis", upgrading their stock depending on demand. So why the disparity with privately owned houses where owners are forced to have them? Not only that, you can have a driveway made up of say type 2 aggregate (immpossible to push a wheelchair over) but as long as you have a ramp then theres your certificate.
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.
- Charles de Gaulle
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.
- Charles de Gaulle
I'm sure the regs apply to all new buildings regardless of ownership.
Yes there is a huge public housing stock pre existing the regulations implementation date, it is not retrospective. They are looking to the future and by making small changes now they are looking at huge cost savings for decades to come.
Also you need a suitable hard standing by your house too (another regulation for the benefit of the disabled). There is some practical common sense applied methinks (for a refreshing change), the assumption being that a vehicle would be used by or for said wheelchair occupant. Or would you rather the regs specified a tarmac driveway too?
And you would set aside a suitable sum of money to build a ramp in the future. A suitable amount being enough to cover the cost in say 30 years, and place in a trust that would be carried to any future owners of the house?
Out of interest, I assume your building a house, what is the actual cost of the ramp v the total build cost?
i've recently built a new bungalow (not personally of course but its ours!)
the ramp is compulsary and can only be removed by youselves after the building standards lot have been out to inspect the house.
and a "tempory ramp" isn't good enough to pass!
it also has to be to your front or back door, a patio door does not count.
but whilst we're talking forced changes to new homes,
you also have to have your light switches lower than standard, sockets higher than standard (for wheelchair users)
there also has to be suitable wheelchair turning space in your kitchen work area and your main bathroom.
you also have to have an area for a roof hanging drying rack!! although we never installed one, the area is there and free.
Everyone is a genius,
but if you judge a fish
on its ability to climb a tree,
it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.....
it's the whole green thing!
you have to mark on your house plans where the washing lines going to prove you'll have one, and the indoor one for rainy days! lol
Everyone is a genius,
but if you judge a fish
on its ability to climb a tree,
it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.....
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