Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970

4 Access to, and facilities at, premises open to the public. E+W+S

(1) Any person undertaking the provision of any building or premises to which the public are to be admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, shall, in the means of access both to and within the building or premises, and in the parking facilities and sanitary conveniences to be available (if any), make [F1 provision, in so far as it is in the circumstances both practicable and reasonable][F1 appropriate provision], for the needs of members of the public visiting the building or premises who are disabled [F2 unless such body as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State is satisfied, after carrying out any procedures which may be so prescribed, that in the circumstances it is either not practicable to make such provision or not reasonable that such provision should be made; and different bodies and different procedures may be prescribed for different classes of buidings or other premises to which this subsection applies][F3 unless such body as may be prescribed by the Secretary of State is satisfied, after carrying out any procedures which may be so prescribed, that in the circumstances it is either not practicable to make such provision or not reasonable that such provision should be made.]

[F4 (1A) In subsection (1) above “appropriate provision”, in relation to any case, means provision conforming with so much of the Code of Practice for Access for the Disabled to Buildings as is relevant to that case and “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; and in the foregoing provisions of this subsection “the Code of Practice for Access for the Disabled to Buildings” means the British Standards Institution code of practice referred to as BS 5810: 1979.]

(2) This section shall not apply to any building or premises intended for purposes mentioned in subsection (2) of section 8 [F5 or in subsection (2) of section 8A] of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words “appropriate provision” substituted (prosp.) (E.W.S.) for words commencing “provision, in so far as” by (S.) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981 (c. 23, SIF 81:2), ss. 37(1)(a), 43(4) and (E.W.) Disabled Persons Act 1981 (c. 43, SIF 81:3), s. 6(1)(6)

F2 Words added (prosp.) (E.W.) by Disabled Persons Act 1981 (c. 43, SIF 81:3), s. 6(1)(b)

F3 Words added (prosp.) (S.) by Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981 (c. 23, SIF 81:2), ss. 37(1)(b), 43(4)

F4 S. 4(1A) inserted (prosp.) (E.W.S.) by (S.) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981 (c. 23, SIF 81:2), s. 37(2) and (E.W.) Disabled Persons Act 1981 (c. 43, SIF 81:3), s. 6(2)(6) (the commas after “appropriate provision” and “any case” being omitted as regards (S.) )

F5 Words inserted by Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Amendment) Act 1976 (c. 49, SIF 81:3), s. 1