Perth street unsafe for people with visual impairments, says campaigner
Jonathan Attenborough, who's registered blind, says the lack of kerbs on Mill Street means his guide dog doesn't know when to stop.
Last updated 12th Jul 2019
A visually impaired Perth College student is calling on the council to make improvements to part of the high street.
Jonathan Attenborough works on Mill Street and says the area is unsafe for people with disabilities because there are no kerbs.
He says his guide dog Sam doesn't know if he's on the road or pavement and is worried it could lead to a dangerous situation.
The 29-year-old is meeting with Perth and Kinross Council bosses on Monday and hopes safety measures can be put in place:
“I'm hoping that we'll achieve from that meeting is that they will listen to our concerns take on board some of the suggestions that we've given them to make these areas safe because there is there is multiple options,” he said.
“Guide dogs are trained specifically to stop at kerbs so that their owner knows that they're at a kerb and they know that they can cross the road.”
The street, which runs near Perth Concert Hall and Perth theatre, was recently redeveloped which resulted in kerbs being removed.
“With these shared-space surfaces it's all one level surface, so there is no pavement and no road.
“If I was walking along Mill Street and trying to cross to the other side of Mill Street at the moment Sam, my guide dog, he wouldn't know where to stop so potentially he could be walking me out right in front of a moving vehicle.
“It doesn't cause problems just for people with visual impairments, but people with other disabilities and even people with small children - you know who don't realise they're on a shared surface these areas just don't work.”
A spokeperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Council officers have met previously with Mr Attenborough and representatives from local organisations to discuss the Mill Street redesign and accessibility for people with disabilities.
“Mill Street has been re-designed to improve access for the whole community and different transport users to cultural venues, and to provide a space that can be used for events and markets to support broader regeneration of the city centre.
“The work we have undertaken to improve access on local streets, including Perth, has also been recognised at a national level with our 'Streets for Everyone' project (undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Inclusive Living Perth and Kinross and Living Streets Scotland) shortlisted for a 2019 Scottish Transport Award.
“For clarity, during the design process for this project, we engaged closely throughout with CILPK and Vision PK and made a number of amendments directly as a result of their comments received at the time.
“We are not aware of any accident history to date involving either vehicles or pedestrians in Mill Street.
“While there are no plans for a complete revision of the project, we are already taking forward the feedback we have received and have begun to look at whether we should make amendments to the scheme, and we will have further discussions with disability organisations in due course."
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