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Accessible OUTRAGE: Village Shop Fined £20k for Wheelchair Ramp in 'Petty' Council Row, Threatening Closure–A beloved village shop, hailed as a "lifeline" by hundreds of locals, faces an existential threat and a staggering £20,000 bill, all because its owners dared to make it accessible for the elderly and disabled. Kenga and Ajantha Kokulakumar, the dedicated couple behind the Roos Village Store and Post Office, are locked in a furious dispute with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which has branded their new wheelchair ramp and wider entrance "characterless" and out of keeping with the historic area.
The Kokulakumars, who took over the community hub in July 2024, invested two months and £10,000 into vital renovations. Their priority: to better serve the village's significant elderly and disabled population. This included replacing a challenging stone step with a much-needed wheelchair ramp, widening the entrance, and installing a security shutter.
"The old entrance had a huge stone step and our elderly and disabled customers really struggled to get in," explained Ms. Kokulakumar, 40. "People kept asking if we could make it accessible. So when we started renovations, we decided to move the door, add a ramp, and make it easier for everyone."
However, their goodwill gesture has been met with a bureaucratic hammer blow. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has ordered the couple to reverse the modifications, claiming they were carried out without proper planning permissions and "harm the appearance" of the village's conservation area.
Ajantha and Kenga freely admit they didn't realise planning permission was required, calling it "a genuine mistake." They applied retrospectively, but the council refused their application twice. An appeal to the planning inspectorate also sided with the council earlier this month.
The potential cost of this bureaucratic insistence is devastating. Ms. Kokulakumar estimates that returning the building to its original state could cost around £20,000 – a sum they simply cannot afford, especially on top of the £10,000 already invested. "To reverse everything would cost more than £20,000 – we simply can't afford it," she stated. "We've followed the rules the best we can. This whole thing has caused so much stress. We're just asking for a little common sense and support."
The council's stance stems from a single complaint, from a resident named Willis Ainsley, who stated the alterations "have significantly changed the character of, and, the street scene of Main Street."
This solitary objection stands in stark contrast to the overwhelming wave of local support for the Kokulakumars. Over 400 villagers have signed a petition backing the shop, underscoring its vital role in the community.
Paul Sanderson, 76, a local resident who uses a mobility scooter, is among those incensed by the council's decision. "That's the only shop there is in the village – it's a lifeline for people like me," he asserted. "The council's being really petty if you ask me. You'd think having proper wheelchair access would be welcomed, not punished. Before, I had to hang onto the wall just to try and get in to the shop. Now it's easy to get inside – I come nearly every day. Without that new door and ramp, I'd struggle."
Dave Crum, 63, another petitioner, echoed the sentiment. "Before the changes you'd have to climb up a massive stone step just to get in – it was ridiculous," he said. "This new setup is brilliant, especially for all the old folk here. Mobility scooters, wheelchairs – they can actually get in now. The shop's been transformed. I know the council has a job to do but it's a barmy decision... A bit of common sense wouldn't go amiss."
The future of Roos Village Store and Post Office now hangs in the balance. The Kokulakumars are left facing a ruinous financial penalty and the prospect of dismantling the very improvements that have made their shop a truly inclusive community asset. Locals are urging the council to reconsider, hoping that common sense and community spirit will prevail over rigid regulations.
