Council criticised for installing new safety guides to help the blind that lead straight into a window

A council have installed a new ‘safety‘ crossing for blind people on a pavement which leads straight into a plate glass window. The 15m long parallel lines of raised silver bands, called tactile bars, were put near a busy road with the aim of helping blind people find a nearby pedestrian crossing. But the lines stop at least 5m away from the road and the other end leads straight into the full length window of a furniture shop in Gloucester.



Gloucestershire County Council claims the markings are the ‘most effective’ design. But they have been branded “totally ridiculous” by partially-sighted people. Guide dog user Ray Peart, 68, said he has had numerous problems crossing the busy road. He said: “What a waste of money. Those lines are supposed to help blind people find a safe crossing but this will be very confusing. They will not give any indication where the crossing is.”

The new ‘safety feature’ has been installed as part of a £5.5million project to create a ‘shared space’ linking Gloucester Docks with the city centre. The design of the area has already been criticised as dangerous for all pedestrians, and recently a ‘courtesy crossing‘ was introduced in a bid to ease the problem. Gloucestershire County Council area highways manager Jason Humm said the authority had worked alongside disability groups to develop the scheme.



He said: “I would like to thank them for their input in ensuring that the current measures we have put in place were the most effective for people who are visually-impaired. We listened to the suggestions and the feedback they have now given us is extremely positive. With regards to the design, the tactile bars act as a tool for people who are visually-impaired and the reason they lead directly to a shop is to allow people who have sight problems to use the building outline to help guide their journey across.”