Traffic changes in busy Warwick street could put blind in danger

Moves to slow down and deter through traffic in Jury Street and High Street have angered the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFB).

The plan includes crossing points, which have a central refuge, and at different sections there will be parking bays on both sides of the road, with raised parking-bay indicators jutting into the road.

Extra-wide crossings will be by Swan Street and Church Street and others by the Lord Leycester Hotel and Brook Street, which will be closed to traffic from High Street and partially paved, and one which will cross Back Lane .

All crossing points will have tactile paving to alert the visually impaired and level wheelchair access onto them.

The aim is to make it safer for pedestrians, but the NFB said the removal of the zebra crossing by Church Street will have the opposite affect.

David Bates, NFB executive officer, said that in “Shared Spaces” the theory is that pedestrians among vehicles slows down traffic and he was worried that Warwick, being a tourist town, would attract drivers not familiar with it who might not cut speed for pedestrians.

He added: “Several organisations have asked that the zebra crossing should be retained.

“The council is not preparing to impose a 20-mph speed limit as other towns have done.

“Blind people who cannot see any of the approaching cars or which way they need to walk, invariably regard ‘Shared Spaces’ as traumatic, dangerous, no-go areas to be avoided at all costs.

“If anyone is in doubt about these facts, then a walk across a ‘Shared Space’ whilst blindfolded will provide them with the experience encountered by a blind pedestrian.”

Julie Crawshaw, a regeneration programme manager with Warwickshire County Council, said: “In developing the schemes with the Warwick Traffic Forum, the council is confident that it is safe for all users and with an increase in the number of crossing points, will improve accessibility for many people.

“We are aware that since the consultation on the design has been completed, the legal orders made and construction commenced, new issues have been brought to us from a few concerned members of the public about the use by the blind and partially sighted.

“We have been in discussions with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Warwickshire Association for the Blind and have agreed that on completion of the scheme, we will review design details with members of their organisations to satisfy everyone that the crossings can be used with confidence.

“If, collectively, we feel that changes should be made, then we will look at doing this after this review”.