A DISABLED councillor was told to get a piggyback if she found it difficult to climb stairs to Middlewich Town Council meetings.
Town councillor Jean Eaton took the remark, allegedly made by an officer of Congleton Borough Council, in jest. But it highlights the problem she faces being able to access her own council chamber.
The officer has since denied the comment was made.
Cllr Eaton, who suffers from fibromyalgia and arthritis, saw the funny side of the remark but says she still faces an uphill challenge to make the monthly meetings as council chambers are upstairs.
She says she was the butt of the joke when she made enquiries as to when the building would be updated to meet access standards coming into force in October. The Disabled Discrimination Act means all public buildings have to be equally accessible to the disabled.
Cllr Eaton told members of Middlewich Town Council on Monday night that officers had suggested the meeting be moved from the traditional chamber until work was carried out on the building.
'I was told funding was in place,' said Cllr Eaton. 'There's a programme of work in place but they weren't going to do anything for at least six weeks.
'It was suggested to me if we didn't want to meet somewhere else that I should get a piggyback up the stairs.' Cllr Eaton says she was told it would be unlikely the work will be done by the end of January 2005.
She believes bosses are exploiting a loophole in the Act. Providing plans are in place, the council is safeguarded from prosecution for as long as two years.
'Sometimes I come through the Civic Hall to miss out half the steps, but I shouldn't have to do that,' added Cllr Eaton. 'If there was someone in a wheelchair they just would not be able to join us in council chambers, we'd have to meet elsewhere.'
Nick Cook, the principal architectural officer for the borough council, told the Chronicle: 'Work on the Victoria Building will begin later this year but no date has yet been set.'
