A learner driver is being barred from taking his driving theory test at a centre in Colchester because he is in a wheelchair.

Dominic Lee, 27, of Frank Clater Close, is desperate to be able to pass his test and get behind the wheel to be able to get out and about on his own.

But even though he lives in Colchester he can't complete the theory section of the test in the town as the centre in Sir Issac's Walk is on the first floor and he can't get his wheelchair in.

His mother, Dorothy, said they have been told the nearest test centre with disabled access was in Ipswich, but that would involve paying out taxi fares to get there and back.

She didn't see why they were being penalised because her son was disabled.

"I don't see why a disabled person can't have it in a place where there is level access," she said.

New legislation is being introduced in October, as part of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, which will force companies to take action to improve their access.

A spokewoman for the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), which oversees driving tests in Britain, said staff were trying to make sure centres met the Act's requirements.

But she admitted there was still work to be done.

She said the DSA would either pay for people who couldn't access one centre to travel to their nearest one or could arrange for an examiner to go to people's homes to do tests there.

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

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