Shared Spaces: Visual Impairment

(asked on 27th April 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the ninth report of session 2016-17 of the Women and Equalities Committee, Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment, published on 25 April 2017, HC 631, what steps he is taking to ensure that blind and partially sighted people are able to safely navigate shared space areas.


Answered by
Nusrat Ghani Portrait
Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
This question was answered on 2nd May 2018

The Government published its response to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report on 14 March 2018. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-and-the-built-environment-government-response-to-select-committee-report.

The response welcomed the Committee’s contribution to this important debate and is absolutely clear that the needs of the whole community, including disabled people, need to be considered by councils looking to introduce any public realm scheme, including shared space.

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation has now reported to the Government on its review of shared space. It published “Creating better streets: Inclusive and accessible places” in January 2018.

http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/document-summary/index.cfm/docid/BF28B40D-9855-46D6-B8C19E22B64AA066

The review has considered many of the issues raised by the Committee, and the report made recommendations for further work, including on guidance. The Government is considering those recommendations and will respond formally in due course.

The Department for Transport is aware of and understands the issues raised around navigation within shared space. Local Transport Note 1/11: Shared Space already stresses the importance of engaging with groups representing disabled people during the development of any shared space scheme. It also refers to the need for authorities to ensure their designs are inclusive and reminds them of their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Local traffic authorities are responsible for the design of streets in their care, and do not have to seek Department for Transport approval to install street design schemes, whether they incorporate shared space or not.

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