SEVEN million people visit York every year and they spend almost £450 million. So you might think we’d do everything in our power to look after them.

Generally speaking, we do. But, astonishingly, a number of our flagship outlets still don’t provide suitable access for the disabled, even though it’s ten years to the day since legislation was introduced requiring them to do precisely that.

Some tell us they cannot install a ramp because their business operates from a listed building; others say that it might get in the way of other people. But the Disability Discrimination Act stipulates that all businesses must take ‘reasonable measures’ to make their premises accessible to all, whether it was built five years ago or 500.

The great pity in all this is that it often doesn’t take much to resolve the problem. A portable ramp wouldn’t cost much and it wouldn’t take up any room. But in having one, a business is not only obeying the law, it sends out a clear message that everyone’s custom is valued, not only those who can walk through the door.