Kirkintilloch disability campaigner hits out at lockdown amendment plan

A well known Kirkintilloch 
disability campaigner has criticised a proposed amendment to lockdown legislation which he says would make life “impossible” for blind people.

Sandy Taylor, executive officer for the National Federation of the Blind UK (Scotland) says proposals to allow more cafes, restaurants and bars to place tables and chairs in the road outside their premises will prevent visually impaired people from being able to navigate those areas.

Writing to MSP Alex Cole Hamilton who proposed the amendment, Mr Taylor said:  “Cafe, restaurant and bar furniture, queues outside shops and take-aways, social distancing and the needs of blind and disabled people are completely incompatible. 

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“Blind and visually impaired people need to follow the building line in order to gain access to shops, amenities etc, your proposed amendment would make this impossible.  We require clutter-free pavements with no obstructions whatsoever if we are to maintain social distancing.  This means no pavement furniture, no cyclists on pavements, this is a perfectly reasonable adjustment under the current regulations.

“I ask you to put yourself in my position (that of a blind person) and consider how it would be possible to navigate your town if your amendment was introduced.  If local authorities are given the power to grant licences as you suggest it would not be policed and would be completely out of control in the present circumstances.”

Mr Alex Cole-Hamilton commented:  “Once it is safe and they are permitted to reopen, it seems inevitable that cafes, restaurants and bars will need to operate at a much reduced capacity to enable social distancing.

“Embracing a new street cafe culture with more covers outside could for many make the difference between their business being viable or not. 

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“Temporarily allowing these businesses to use nearby streets and other open-air spaces would help them lift the shutters when the time is right, protecting jobs and keeping people safe.

“This proposal builds on the progress that Lib Dems have already helped secure towards widening pavements and closing selected roads to traffic except for local residents and emergency vehicles – something councils across the country are already drawing up plans for.

“There needs to be local discretion so the plans are suitable for each area and local residents too. But I want this Bill to give businesses and councils the confidence to work together and plan for the creation of a new street cafe culture.”

Lithuanian capital Vilnius recently announced plans to convert the city into an “open air cafe”, allowing large amounts of its public areas to be dedicated to open air seating, with bars and restaurants setting up outdoors to maintain social distancing.

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