Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore joined a ‘blindfold’ walk around Ilkley at the weekend to urge more to be done about street obstacles.
The blindfold walk, led by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), highlighted the difficulties pedestrians with sight loss face having to navigate street obstructions like advertising boards (A-boards).
Despite Bradford Council’s decision to introduce a ban on A-boards in April 2018, residents report that these dangerous obstructions have made a return to the streets of Ilkley, to the dismay of blind and partially sighted individuals.
A report by the RNIB’s See Streets Differently campaign revealed that it was becoming increasingly difficult for residents in Yorkshire and the Humber to avoid accidents while walking. According to the research, new street designs, pavement parking, and bins are among the many issues that need to be addressed.
During the walk, MP Robbie Moore was given an insight into the everyday challenges the blind and the partially sighted face, wearing filtered glasses that simulated the sight loss experienced by a range of different eye conditions.
Robbie Moore MP said: It was a privilege to be able to join the RNIB for their blindfold walk last Saturday in Ilkley. It is so important to raise awareness about how certain movable objects whether that be street furniture, wheelie bins, A Boards, or other advertising stands on our streets can impact blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Having spent the morning walking around our pavements with simulated sight lose glasses, I experienced just how tough it is to navigate our pavements when they are blocked by randomly placed movable objects. I really would urge all businesses and residents to be mindful of this when placing items on the pavements as it’s important that our streets are accessible to all. I thank the RNIB for inviting me to take part, and for all they are doing to help raise awareness on this issue.
