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28
Jul 2022
Wheelchair user praises Harrogate restaurant for buying ramp
A wheelchair user has praised the owner of Harrogate restaurant Oliveta who personally went out and bought a ramp so she could dine inside.
Now, Nichola Emmerson is calling for other businesses in the town to follow suit in a bid to make eating out more accessible.
Ms Emmerson, who is a campaigner and advocate for disabled access, said she believed any public service should be available to everyone.
She said:
Ms Emmerson, who lives in Harrogate, said she enjoyed going to restaurants, but often ended up being limited to chains, which usually provided access.
A few weeks ago, she spotted Oliveta, on Station Parade, which she saw had steps but decided to call the restaurant to see if there was another entrance.
She said:
Read more:
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- Harrogate disability charity explains why some crossings don't beep
Since that evening, Ms Emmerson spent time working with the owner, Kole Lleshi, in an effort to get a ramp, doorbell and signage installed to make it wheelchair accessible.
She said:
Kole Lleshi, who opened the Mediterranean restaurant with his wife Bukurie, in December 2021, said he had tried to seek support from Harrogate Borough Council, but did not get a response.
He said:
Ms Emmerson explained that there was a huge potential spending power from the country's disabled people, known as "the purple pound". This is thought to contribute around £249 billion annually to the economy.
She said:
The disabled toilet at Oliveta.
Harrogate charity Disability Action Yorkshire offers accessibility audits to help businesses do all they can to be fully accessible.
A spokesman for the charity said for some businesses it was impossible to adapt the premises and make them fully accessible. However, he said there were ways of making them more welcoming for disabled people.
He said:
A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council commented:
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