It's for your own good - really. Another 'Nanny State' action
This time it's park benches and it is
For Your Own Good (tm) dammit so accept it...
From the
Daily Mail:
Health and safety purge of the park benches that are 3 inches too low
Park benches across the country will have to be replaced at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds - because they are too low.
Under new health and safety laws, benches must be more than 17.75in high so the elderly and disabled can get off them easily.
The new rules came to light after Bramcote Crematorium in Nottinghamshire was told by officials from the local Broxtowe council to replace 40 memorial benches costing £400 each.
An inspector found that the benches were 14.75in high - 3in lower than the "allowed minimum" height and 5in lower than the "optimum" height.
The crematorium has also been ordered to pay a further £200,000 for lighting, because, under the same legislation, the new benches must be lit at night.
Kevin Browne, the crematorium's manager, said: "The inspector went around with a tape measure measuring everything for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
"Apparently, it means that the buttocks of infirm people are below the point at which they can easily return to a standing position, and 72 per cent of our visitors are elderly.
"But we also have to pay to put the new benches on an elevated slab, clear enough space at the side to give wheelchair access and make sure all the benches across our 18-acre site are properly lit.
"This will have staggering financial implications for us - about £200,000 - and we have to carry it out within two years.
"It is very difficult to strike a balance between our responsibility to the bereaved and the other obligations placed on us."
The order has led to the benches - many of which were paid for by bereaved families in memory of their loved ones - being removed.
What kind of idiot would enforce something like this. Talk about cognative dissonance...
Posted by DaveH at June 2, 2007 6:27 PM
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