These days, there are many different types of wheelchair lift available, which is good news for those who rely on such provisions to get them up and down levels in buildings. Indeed, a rising number of public and private buildings feature disability lift resources. However, plans unveiled by one local authority concerning the installation of a lift have caused concern among certain parties. Tewkesbury Town Hall is set to get the feature, which would cost around £15,000, as part of a wider scheme of refurbishment, the Gloucestershire Echo reports. Tewkesbury Civic Society chairman Alan Purkiss has expressed his concerns over the proposals and has written to the town council. He believes that access to the new lift would exclude members of the public and particularly wheelchair users because, while there are steps at the front of the town hall, the lift would be located at the back. Access to it would require people to go through the council's offices. In an email to the authority, he remarked: "It could only really be used by staff and councillors, those that can walk, and would be useless for the general public." According to Mr Purkiss, councillors had committed themselves to spending a large amount of taxpayers' money without first having sufficient debate. However, town clerk Pauline Clarke suggested that disabled members of the public would be able to access the new lift by an entrance at the back of the hall or by using a stair-climber at the front of the building. She added: "It wouldn't be ideal, but it could be done." Many people around the UK rely on the use of wheelchair lift devices to enable them to access various buildings, transport hubs and so on. Meanwhile, under the Disability Discrimination Act it is the responsibility of all building owners and providers of services to ensure that the premises they are responsible for are accessible to everyone, and disability lift resources can play an important role in this.

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