Tag: Guide Dogs Scotland

Capital’s pavement parking controls to be introduced in New Year

Preparations are underway to begin enforcement against pavement parking in Edinburgh, following the introduction of new powers by the Scottish Government.

A report to Transport and Environment Committee sets out a proposed approach and timescales for enforcing against pavement parking as part of new parking prohibitions being introduced. National regulations are expected to come into force on 11 December and it is proposed that Edinburgh’s enforcement begins in January 2024.

Parking on pavements, at dropped kerbs and double parking can inconvenience all road users, significantly impacting people with mobility issues, parents with pushchairs and older people.

The Council has always supported a ban on pavement parking and has collaborated closely with Living Streets and Guide Dogs Scotland to lobby for the introduction of controls in Scotland. This will help ensure Edinburgh’s roads and footways are accessible for all, which is central to our vision of an equal, accessible and sustainable city as part of the City Mobility Plan.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Implementing these new parking restrictions is part of our commitment to ensure Edinburgh’s roads and pavements are accessible for all.

“Making sure our footways are kept clear will deliver real benefits for pedestrians and road users, particularly those who are disproportionately affected such as parents with pushchairs, older people and wheelchair users.

“We would expect everyone to adhere to the new prohibitions when the final regulations come into force to guarantee our streets are safer and more user-friendly.”

Stuart Hay, Director, Living Streets Scotland, said: “Edinburgh is taking the right approach to the enforcement of pavement parking, recognising that footways are for people, not parking spaces for cars.

“Exemptions should only be applied in exceptional cases based on evidence, which can only be collected via careful monitoring and consultation. This is the best way to ensure those most affected by blocked pavements, including disabled people, have safe access to our streets.”

Niall Foley, Lead External Affairs Manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, said: “Parking on pavements is a nuisance for everyone, but potentially dangerous if you are a wheelchair user forced onto the road, pushing a buggy, or have sight loss and can’t see traffic coming towards you.

“When cars block the way, it undermines the confidence of people with a vision impairment to get out and about independently.

“We welcome the parking measures being introduced and look forward to working with Edinburgh Council to ensure the pavement parking prohibitions are a success.”

Preparations include the assessment of 5,217 roads by officers as part of the footway parking assessment project. This has helped to identify a small number of streets where significant pavement parking may require mitigation measures to minimise potential negative impacts on the wider road network.

Despite the prohibitions featuring in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, the necessary regulations required to support the enforcement and appeals procedures have only recently been finalised by Transport Scotland and are expected to come into effect on 11 December.

Work to complete the necessary changes in Edinburgh will commence as soon as it is confirmed that the new regulations have come into force.  

An awareness campaign, currently being designed by Transport Scotland, is hoped to drive a change in behaviour over the festive period in advance of enforcement beginning. A further Council-run campaign aligned with the national approach is intended once the new prohibitions take effect.

Read the full report, Implementing of new parking prohibitions. 

Watch Transport and Environment Committee from 10am on Thursday, 16 November via webcast.

Guide Dogs to spread more pawsitivity thanks to partnership with Scotmid

Community retailer aiming to raise £250,000 for new charity partner  

A leading Scottish community retailer is hoping to get tongues – and tails – wagging today (Thursday 1st September) with the announcement of its ‘pawsome’ new charity partnership.

Scotmid has taken the lead and chosen Guide Dogs as its barkingly brilliant charity companion, with plans to raise £250,000 over the course of the year long partnership. 

The funding will enable Guide Dogs to train three new Habilitation Specialists, as well as two Guide Dog Mobility Specialists, who will help and support hundreds more people in Scotland who are living with sight loss.

Guide Dog’s Habilitation Specialists support children and young people with a vision impairment, providing them with the skills they need to live an independent and active life and helping them reach their full potential.

Habilitation involves mobility, orientation and independent living skills. From supporting physical development in the early years, to navigating streets safely, preparing food, handling money and using technology as they grow older.

Funds will also be allocated to training two Guide Dog Mobility Specialists who partner life-changing guide dogs to people with sight loss. When guide dogs are partnered with a person with sight loss, the partnership boosts general mobility as well as increasing confidence and independence to go out into the community; expanding opportunities to socialise and reducing isolation.

Kyla McVicar, Business Development Manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, said: “Guide Dogs offers a range of services for adults and children affected by a vision impairment, as well as their families. We have expanded our services in recent years so that we can help thousands of people with different needs lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.

“We are really excited to be working with Scotmid and would like to say a huge thank you for their incredible support, which will enable us to train crucial new staff members and reach even more people affected by sight loss.

“The new roles include guide dog mobility specialists, who train our dogs and partner them with people with sight loss and habilitation specialists, who work with children and young people to help them develop vital life-long orientation and independence skills.

“This means that Scotmid will make a significant and lasting difference for families affected by sight loss across the local communities it has a presence in.”

John Brodie, Chief Executive at Scotmid, said: “Our core purpose is to serve our communities and to improve people’s everyday lives, so Guide Dogs is an excellent fit for us.

“Over the coming year, we are looking forward to raising much needed funds and awareness of this very worthy cause. We want to play our part in supporting those who are affected by sight loss, helping them to live more independent and fuller lives.”

Colleagues, customers and members across Scotmid’s stores will take part in various fundraising and engagement activities throughout the year, including ‘Name the Puppy’ competitions, Kiltwalks and in-store activities to support the partnership.

Serious Concerns: Disability campaigners urge councillors to reconsider making Spaces for People changes permanent

Disability campaigning groups have written to the city council’s Transport and Environment Committee to express concerns over controversial proposals to make changes to the capital’s streets permanent.

The Committee meets today to consider the findings of its recent ‘Retaining Spaces for People’ consultation, a review of how the Council has implemented the Scottish Government’s push during lockdown to reduce the number of cars and vehicles by creating more cycle-lanes and pedestrianised areas.

But the campaigners’ letter warns that measures put in place too hastily and without adequate consultation could inadvertently make going outdoors more hazardous for wheelchair users and pedestrians with other disabilities.

The letter, jointly signed by members of Edinburgh Access Panel and the sight loss charities RNIB Scotland and Guide Dogs Scotland, says: “We want to reiterate our concerns about the implications of making temporary Spaces for People measures permanent.

“Any decisions taken will have serious and long-term implications for the citizens of Edinburgh in terms of how they access their city and its amenities.”

An online petition to ‘Stop Edinburgh council making dangerous road changes, cycle lanes & parking cuts permanent’ has attracted more than 16,800 signatures.

Guide-dog owner Ian Drysdale of Corstorphine said “The changes have taken away my independence and mobility. Before the Spaces for People changes, I had no problem getting out and about. But now the areas I feel safe in are getting smaller and smaller.”

Catriona Burness of RNIB Scotland said: “We are concerned that momentous decisions about changing the way we walk, wheel and cycle are being made before any of us know what the future, post-Covid, Edinburgh will look like.”

The safety of pedestrians, particularly those who are more vulnerable, must be the deciding factor when determining changes, the letter emphasises. “The current wave of temporary measures show a greater regard for the interests of cyclists than those of pedestrians,” says Anne-Marie Barry of Guide Dogs Scotland.

The campaigners are concerned that some of the measures introduced have made things more challenging and potentially dangerous for blind and partially sighted people and wheelchair users. For example, poorly designed ‘pop-up ‘cycle lanes which incorporate ‘floating’ bus-stops do not take account of disabled people getting on and off buses.

RNIB Scotland and Guide Dogs Scotland are urging the Transport and Environment Committee to postpone making any decisions this week and to support having an independent, third-party national review of the Spaces for People initiative.

You can watch the Transport and Environment Committee live via webcast, from 10am this morning.

Guide Dogs Scotland express concerns over capital’s Spaces for People programme

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has said that Edinburgh Council must urgently review their Space for People project to meet the needs of people with sight loss.  

A recent FOI request by Mr Briggs revealed that no safety audits had been carried out by Edinburgh City Council ahead of putting new measures in place.

Guide Dogs Scotland have contacted Edinburgh City Council about a number of concerns they have with the Space for People initiative, the foremost being the lack of consultation with most vulnerable road users.

A key concern is that the Commonplace online map, an online tool for consulting on changes, has not been fully accessible to people with sight loss.  

Another concern raised is a lack of transparency, with the walking and cycling charity Sustrans, managing the funds, providing advice and having developed the evaluation framework for the programme.

Particular safety concerns which have been highlighted include ‘floating bus stops’ and ‘bus boarders’ that require pedestrians to cross an uncontrolled crossing before and after they board a bus. For people with sight loss, this presents a particular challenge as many won’t be able to see approaching cyclists.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The ill-thought-out Spaces for People initiative has created a number of significant changes to streets and roads across Edinburgh and has clearly impacted negatively on people with sight loss.

“From the outset Edinburgh City Council has failed to consult with local residents and must now act and take on board this guidance from Guide Dogs Scotland and fully consult with those who are visually impaired.   

“Floating bus stops and bus borders are issues which have been highlighted as especially hazardous for people who have sight loss and these real concerns must be addressed urgently.”

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Edinburgh has secured almost £2m in additional funding from Sustrans to improve conditions for walking, cycling and wheeling, it’s been announced.

The £1.95m award, comprising of Spaces for People and Places for Everyone funding, will add to £5m already received from the Scottish Government, via Sustrans, to implement temporary measures supporting travel by foot, bike or wheelchair.

This latest boost will help us to complete the proposed programme of temporary improvements first approved by Policy and Sustainability Committee in May. It will also allow the Spaces for People team to enhance schemes where possible, carry out more road and pavement resurfacing and increase the removal of street clutter.

Since May, we’ve introduced many temporary changes across the city to provide safe and protected routes, helping pedestrians and cyclists to travel while physically distancing. Amongst these are widened pavements in key shopping streets, segregated cycle lanes on main roads, closures on roads leading to popular parks and beauty spots, and improvements around schools.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This is fantastic news and is testament to the hard work of our Spaces for People team, who are developing schemes which support people to walk, cycle and wheel while COVID restrictions are in place.

Additional funding will help us to deliver an even better package of routes and improvements which not only create more room for physical distancing but help residents to make healthy, active travel choices whenever they can.

Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’ve already delivered a whole range of projects – helping children to get to school safely, creating space to spend time on shopping streets and giving cyclists safer, segregated routes for travel.

“This funding will help us provide additional improvements including removing street clutter to help reduce obstacles to pedestrian movement and improving some projects already on the ground, for example by renewing surfacing, and potentially adding some new projects.”

An update report to Transport and Environment Committee last week outlined the next steps for Spaces for People in Edinburgh, including amendments to existing interventions, several more complex schemes and improvements developed as a result of public feedback.

This has been referred to Full Council today (Thursday 19 November) for final approval.

Find out more about Spaces for People on the Council website.

Masquerade ‘eye’Ball raises funds for Guide Dogs Scotland

A local eye hospital has held its largest ever fundraiser, raising £5,000 for charity. The Edinburgh Clinic, a specialist private hospital in Colinton, held the event – a masquerade ‘eyeball’ – on Saturday.

More than 90 opticians and consultants attended the glitzy celebrations at the Balmoral Hotel, which raised a total of £5,000 for Guide Dogs Scotland. Continue reading Masquerade ‘eye’Ball raises funds for Guide Dogs Scotland