Officials given taste of everyday hazards which blind and disabled people face in Edinburgh's streets

Alan Dudley and guide dog Gemma featured in a video highlighting hazards in Leith Walk

OFFICIALS and civil servants who help plan city streets will today be given the chance to share the experience of blind and disabled people who face obstacles every time they go out.

A group of charities has organised the event which will see 15 senior public service staff accompany people with a range of complex needs around the congested area beside the Omni Centre at the top of Leith Walk.

Organisers praised Edinburgh City Council for its ban on pavement A-board signs and the Scottish Parliament for legislating against cars parking on pavements.

But they claimed more needed to be done to raise awareness of the problems faced by people with visual or other disabilities.

And they said everyday obstacles included bins left on pavements or in the street, overhanging signs and cycle lanes where there was nothing to warn people who might not be able to see cyclists approaching.

Today’s event involves sight-loss charity RNIB Scotland, Spinal Injuries Scotland and Guide Dogs Scotland and is being hosted by We Walk, We Cycle, We Vote, a collaborative campaign calling for more investment in walking and cycling.

James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “Letting the people who set the framework for things like planning and urban design experience hear what it’s like trying to get around a city centre will give them a greater appreciation of the potential problems those with sight loss and other disabilities face every day.

“We are campaigning for all of our cities and towns to be made more accessible to people and for any obstacles or impediments to be kept to a minimum.

“That’s why we very much welcomed the recent decision by Edinburgh City Council to make its ban on advertising boards permanent. A bold and progressive move like this will make our capital more welcoming to residents and visitors with disabilities.”

Maureen Morrison, operations manager with Spinal Injuries Scotland, said people with physical disabilities were often deterred from going out because of the problems they knew they would face.

She said: “We are committed to supporting spinal cord injured people and ensuring that our towns and cities are designed to enable them to undertake life’s daily functions with as much independence as possible.

“For many who require a greater level of accessibility, the prospect of leaving the house can be daunting. We welcome this event as an opportunity to point out the barriers that many people face in the hope that influencers will incorporate more accessible design in our towns and cities in the future, for a more inclusive society.”

Eighteen months ago, Alan Dudley, who is blind, featured in a social media video made by RNIB to highlight the hazards involved in “shared spaces” urban design, where roads and pavements are at the same level and have the same surface. The idea is to make drivers slow down because it is not clear who has priority, but critics say the approach increases danger for many pedestrians.

The film showed Mr Dudley negotiating obstacles on Leith Walk, near his home, with his guide dog Gemma.