BLACKPOOL won't be able to cope with a conference for disabled delegates 'until at least 2007' claims a disabled rights activist.

Stephen Brookes MBE says it is a 'shocking admission of failure' that the TUC Disability Conference - held last year in Blackpool - cannot now find a suitable venue, even though equal access for disabled people to goods and services becomes law in just two months.

Last year's TUC conference ended with delegates complaining that disabled facilities were not up to scratch. And Mr Brookes, a disabled journalist and researcher, says Blackpool will not be able to cater properly for another Disability Conference 'until at least 2007'.

"I live in Blackpool, and to find that my home town, which has always been in the forefront for national conferences, has no suitable venue is just not acceptable," he said. He explained the TUC has also contacted major conference venues across the UK, but none of them can provide full facilities even though they will have a duty to under the Disabled Discrimination Act from October 1.

"The truth is that no one has taken the basic needs of DDA95 into consideration, or recognised that they have had nine years to come to terms with the fact that disabled people have legal rights. It is just not good enough.

"The TUC is undertaking a campaign to challenge the hotel industry and local authorities to provide greater numbers of accessible rooms and facilities for business use by disabled people and organisations.

"Historically recognised conference centres such as Blackpool, Brighton, Bournemouth and Scarborough cannot fulfil the needs of disabled people at such an event until at least 2007.

"There are ten million disabled people and they all spend money at the conferences, so to ignore that is financial suicide anyway," he added.

Blackpool Council's conference officer, Margaret Roffey, said: "Blackpool does recognise the needs of the disabled delegate. The Winter Gardens in particular has their building audited by a disabled person every couple of years and they do follow up on the recommendations.

"The council have appointed an equalities officer and I also know that the Grand Theatre have launched an appeal to improve the theatre and some of the money is going to be used for disabled access."

She added: "We have a lot of Victorian buildings in Blackpool. It's harder than it might appear to be. But we are fully aware of the current legislation and we are working to make Blackpool more accessible."