THE reason behind the Waterstone's bookshop closing in Swindon town centre can be revealed it is because of the Disability Discrimination Act. But it is not the bookshop that did not comply with the new legislation, but Barclays Bank next door in Regent Street.

Waterstone's has moved the Regent Street branch into its branch in the Brunel Centre.

The bank owns the tenancy on the former Waterstone's unit in Regent Street, and is now looking at how to make its current branch more accessible.

At the moment to get to the banking area customers have to go up either an escalator or a staircase to the first floor.

Both these are options however which are almost impossible for people in wheelchairs and young mums with pushchairs.

Barclays south west spokeswoman Julia Husband said: "We have got back our tenanted premises from Waterstone's.

"We are looking in the next three and four months to insure that the branch is Disability Discrimination Act compliant.

"There are several options we are looking at. One of them is putting a lift in and therefore getting wheelchairs and buggies up to the next floor.

"The decision has yet to be made but we will be DDA compliant in the next few months."

It has not yet been decided whether a lift will be installed or whether there will be bank staff on the ground floor in Waterstone's.

But Ms Husband said: "Lots of exciting things will be happening to the branch and we are very keen to see it happen as soon as possible."

A women's clothing shop was briefly set up in the former Waterstone's shop but has now vacated the premises.

Waterstone's was unavailable for comment.