Otley'S businesses and public buildings could be faced with legal challenges when new disability laws come into force tomorrow.

Part three of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requ-ires all shops, restaurants, bars and 'service providers', including council buildings, to give full access to the disabled.

Otley Disability Advisory Group (ODAG) invited every firm in the town to a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the new law - but only two representatives turned up.

Otley Town Councillor John Eveleigh said: "I think there are a significant number of premises and businesses and restaurants in Otley which in no way comply with the act and I would implore them, even at this late stage, to try and take a step forward.

"It's scandalous that in 2004 there are places where disabled people can't go into, they've as much right to partake of facilities as anybody else.

"And there's a lot of spending power with disabled people, they are consumers in their own right - it's going to be in companies' own interest to put proper facilities for them in place.

"In terms of retail premises I've had personal experiences, because my daughter's in a wheelchair, with some shops which are not particularly disabled people friendly.

"It will be interesting to see if there are any changes in Otley tomorrow. Because some companies have gone out of their way to try and comply, others don't seem to have done anything much at all.

"In terms of council services you can now get into the One Stop Shop here, which has improved its access. But from the town council's point of view we still have major issues within the Civic Centre itself and other bits of land we own."

Coun Eveleigh added that Otley Methodist and several other churches in the area were leading by example in terms of improving accessibility.

The new part of the DDA means businesses have to remove or improve things like steps, heavy doors, insufficient lighting, and poor signage.

And from tomorrow, disabled people will be able to take court cases against 'persistent offenders'.

But ODAG Secretary Kim Woodyear says that doesn't mean shopkeepers should think they have to do everything at once.

She said: "We told all the shops in Otley about the meeting, it was not to scare them but to let them know the act was coming into force and try and help explain what it would mean for them.

"But just two people came, and we had two notes asking for more information.

"I think that's representative of people either being scared, not having the time or not understanding how this will affect them.

"There is leeway in the act about doing 'what is reasonable', and that means businesses can start by doing little things like adding a £10 grab rail up steps, or putting up clear signage for those with visual impairments.

"They can then think 'next year I might be able to do a bit more'. We want this to work with the shops on this, not create friction."

Otley and District Chamber of Trade President David Gagen said: "We have made our members aware of the requirements of the act over the last 12 months, and there have been a number of seminars through the Business Link in Leeds which were available to them.

"But we've had no specific feedback from members as to how prepared they are, which is a pity.

"We would always urge them to do as much as they can to comply with the regulations. But it is down to individual members to decide what they need to do and how flexible they need to be to meet the requirements of all parts of the community.

"I think any business that improves its accessibility will find it will pay off in the long run."

l Anyone with queries about the DDA act can contact ODAG on (01943) 466335 or (01943) 464631.