WHEELCHAIR USERS: BUSINESSES in Chippenham fear they will struggle to introduce new measures for improved disabled access.

From this year, under the government's Disability Discrimination Act, businesses have to make reasonable changes to ensure they are accessible.

Some traders are worried about the high costs involved and others, who operate from older premises, say they will not be allowed to make improvements because of listed building legislation.

Sales assistant Margaret Webb, of Sheila Ferris clothes shop in Market Place, said: "We are in a grade two listed building so there is nothing we can do about the steps outside. We realise this probably puts off disabled customers from coming in."

Paddy Greaney, manager of Thresher wine merchants in Market Place, realises the steps up to his shop makes it inaccessible, but as with other traders, he said his hands were tied by listed building legislation.

"Everybody is entitled to equal rights but we would find it hard to put in a ramp," he said.

Town councillor Maureen Lloyd, who has campaigned for improved disabled access in Chippenham since 1987, said multinational companies could afford to make changes but was worried about how smaller business would cope with extra costs.

She said: "It has been a long haul to get companies to make changes. Access is still a problem across north Wiltshire so a lot of investments needs to take place."

Cllr Ross Henning, North Wiltshire District Council's portfolio holder for environment, transport and the built environment, said the council's building control and listed building departments would have to work together to iron out any problems.

"It will be easier to improve disabled access on new build but on old build it will be almost impossible," he said.

Maria Eagle, parliamentary under-secretary of state for work and pensions, said businesses should not fear facing huge bills.

"There is no question of small organisations or those with few resources being put out of business or put to ridiculous expense," she said.

"Ensuring people get access to services should be proportionate to the resources available to those who are providing them."

Last month, the Government published the draft Disability Discrimination Bill, which amends the 1995 Act, for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Significant changes include more emphasis on the public sector to promote disability equality and alterations to the definition of disabled to include people with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis.