Pursuing the bloomin' obvious

 I've just been writing a six-page summary for a solicitor, and compiling a further twenty-five pages of documentation to assist them.

Viv and I are seeking help on an issue with the developers who built our housing estate: while the roads and paths look ok to the mobile, some aspects are a nightmare for those with a mobility issue.

The problems are, in fact, obvious: dropped kerbs missing, and uneven or unmade surfaces. The devlopment was built around 2011 - 2013, well after the DDA (and then the Equality Act) became law. 

I've emailed and written letters to the developers, and the council; they all seemingly acknowledge the issues but don't seem to have any particular sense of urgency about progressing matters. The council won't accept responsibility for anything until the roads are adopted; the developers say they've delivered what was agreed with the council in the approved plans.

It's costing us £750 +VAT to get legal advice to progress our case; that the plans didn't meet the need of the disabled seems to cut no ice with anyone. 

Unfortunately it's typical of the way the disabled are treated. I've lost count of the number of people we've met near our home who don't realise there is a problem with access for the disabled around the neighbourhood - it's only when you get a wheelchair out, and show them the problems, that they realise it. Some houses are on 'islands', where there are no dropped kerbs that a wheelchair user can use (meaning they have to have assistance - a clear breach of the DDA).

People are paranoid about race, or gender/sex discrimnination. Black Lives Matter have marched through London in uniforms, showing to all the consequences of 'discrimination' (read that how you wish); who is there to march, Nazi-brown shirt style, on behalf of the wheelchair bound?