P-05-898 Ban the use of A boards in Wales, Correspondence – Wales Council of the Blind to Committee, 29.11.19

To whom it may concerns,

The long-standing problem of A-board posing a risk to pedestrians with sight difficulties is frequently raised by our members and others with sight loss. Therefore we welcome any move towards solving the issue such as this petition.

The problem is a complex one. The positioning of A boards in locations that have narrow pavements is notoriously troublesome and these locations are plentiful in rural towns and villages, often forcing pedestrians – including people with wheelchairs or prams - onto the roads. In larger towns and cities, they can be found in locations such as shopping centres along with other hazards such as benches and bollards. Locations such as train stations often have notice boards blocking exits and entrances in a way that has little regard for blind and partially sighted people. There is nothing new in this. We have been hearing of these problems for the past 25 years.

It would not be enough, in our view, to deal solely with the matter as it stands within the purview of Local Authorities as they, presumably, have no jurisdiction over privately owned land such as shopping centres or certain open public spaces.

We would recommend that Welsh Government assemble a group of stakeholders to deal with the matter in depth and to explore all options with the guidance of a legal expert.

Yours sincerely

Owen

Owen Williams

Director

Wales Council of the Blind