The poor state of London’s pavements means blind people feel unable to leave their homes, according to research.
Two in three visually impaired people have tripped or stumbled on damaged footpaths in Britain, with London councils spending over £6 million on compensation for personal injury claims in the past four years.
New research revealed at the start of Guide Dogs Week 2013 shows complaints in the capital rose by 25 per cent in the last four years, despite spending on pavements increasing by 6.5 per cent.
Guide Dogs Chief Executive Richard Leaman said: “Guide Dogs is determined to help people with sight loss get out independently and with confidence, but this is being undermined by the dreadful state of our pavements. Council’s must prioritise dangerous pavements if blind and partially sighted people, as well as people with other disabilities, are to have the same freedom as everyone else. For many, it can be the difference between being able to set out with confidence or being trapped at home.”
Cracked pavements were among the top five difficulties highlighted in Guide Dogs’ Street’s Ahead Survey, in which almost two thirds of respondents (65%) said they had been injured by street clutter, including A-boards, wheelie bins and badly parked cars.
