CAMPAIGNERS have promised they will protest should their call for proper disabled access to Colchester’s benefits assessment centre continue to be ignored.

Ali Wilkin, who was found fit to work in her absence by the Department for Work and Pensions, says she is sick of disabled people being treated like “frauds and criminals”.

A petition, which accuses the authorities of breaching the Equality Act over inaccessibility at the assessment centre in Wellington Street is now just 200 shy of its target of 800 signatures.

Ali wants is a meeting with MP Sarah Newton, the Minister of State for Disabled People, in Colchester, and for the town’s MP Will Quince to acknowledge the discrimination experienced by his disabled constituents.

She said: “There are some key questions we want to ask Ms Newton not only about the physical inaccessibility of the Colchester centre but the administrative prejudices in the benefits system and application process.

“The next stage is to keep pressing Will Quince to ask for him to arrange this meeting to show her what we’re up against.

“The disabled community has been trying to talk to Mr Quince about the problems with Employment and Support Allowance for a long time.

“Disabled People Against Cuts held a meeting with him in 2015 just after he’d been elected, which included inaccessibility at the benefits assessment centre.”

The campaign has attracted national attention since going live.

Despite suffering from severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Ali, 48, and friend Jaki Whyte is taking on the fight for disabled people nationally who are facing the same battles with assessment centres.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Jaki is owed £5,000 in benefits because she has been marked as not attending her ESA appointment

Jaki Whyte outside of the Wellington Street centre

READ MORE: I'M OWED £5K AS I CAN'T ACCESS BENEFITS HQ

After nearly two months without funds, the DWP has now informed Ali her benefits will be reinstated.

The mum-of-two had to medically retire in 2017 after 18 years working full-time.

She said: “I’m pleased the decision was reversed and I was shown to have a good case for not been able to attend the assessment, but the important question is what next?

“My rights under the Equality Act weren’t upheld during the benefits application process, they’re not being upheld systemically and this needs to be dealt with.”

To sign the petition click here

READ MORE: PETITION CALLS FOR DISABILITY ASSESSMENT CENTRE TO BE DISABILITY-FRIENDLY