Work by the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads to make pavements more accessible to all pedestrians is being ramped up once more.
In the coming weeks, Island Roads will be installing tactile dropped kerb crossing points at 16 locations across the Island. On completion of the programme, Island Roads will then look to install at least another 10 crossing points as part of its Highways PFI work to upgrade footways in this coming year.
This year’s work is in addition to more than 70 new crossing points delivered in recently both through the PFI programme and using additional money prioritised by the council to fund accessibility schemes.
Stephen Ashman, Island Roads Service director, said:
“We remain in ongoing dialogue with local groups that champion the need for footways that are accessible for all and we are delighted to once again be working with the council on schemes that make a real difference to people.”
Councillor Phil Jordan, IW Council cabinet member for highways and transport said:
“These tactile crossing points are used by many pedestrian groups including those with prams or who have visual impairment or mobility issues. I welcome this investment in making sure our pavements are suitable and safe for all those who use them.”
Jan Brookes, CEO of Isle Access said:
“We are really pleased to see the IW Council and Island Roads continuing their commitment to improving access for many people on the Island.
“The dropped kerbs will make it easier for people to get around their communities and are a factor in preventing loneliness and isolation.”
The sites in line for the next tranche of dropped-kerb crossing points are:
- Bannock Road, Whitwell – near Kemming Road
- Melville Street, Sandown – near Broadway
- Cornwall Road, Ventnor – near Newport Road
- Nicholson Street, Newport – junction with Horsebridge Hill
- Milligan Road, Ryde – near West Street
- West Street, Ventnor – near High Street
- Winchester Park Road, Sandown – near Broadway (both eastern and western sides)
- Royal Crescent, Sandown – near Beachfield Road and near Melville Street
- Three Gates Road, Cowes – near Place Road
Good news the Council have recognised the need for this work. It will help people in wheelchairs, mobility scooters etc.
Just one ask, why use the term, ‘ramped up’???
I hate it, it’s one of Boris Johnson’s creations!!
Business speak, hate it, “ramped up”, “blue sky thinking” “moving forward” and the best one is starting your sentence with “So, “
Some great “Gold Taps” thinking here, there are not enough drop kerbs around, just as long as they do it properly, and yeah business speak one of Boris’s greatest successes, “ramped up” Yuck.
These are death traps. My wife went to cross outside Iceland in Newport with a four-wheel walker she needs to help keep her safe on her feet. The wheels got caught in the bobble and she was pitched forward onto the road luckily the pedestrian light was on green so there was no traffic. Whoever designed these obviously had never pushed a walker buggy or anything else.
I personally object to these part types of crossing access mainly because they are so uncomfortable under foot. I u derstand the reason for them but nevertheless they are painful to the balls of my feet and there really is so many of them in close proximity. My own bugbare about pavements is how the width has shrunk due to overgrown edging leading down to the pavements never being cleared away. Some pavements are so narrow one person struggles to walk. Perhaps something can be done about this in time.
people like myself need these crossing points to be able to safely negotiate the activity of crossing the road, there are lots of junctions in Ryde alone where the crossing point is to high to safely negotiate with either a wheelchair or scooter, your option for walking is not to use the crossing points and use the pavement either side of them instead, how about thinking of others and not just your poor feet
I DID say that I understand the reasons behind this so called safety feature…..and I do use the pavement on either side. I was just making the point that those bumps are very uncomfortable to walk on…weather I’m blind or disabled in any way will not change that! And in my opinion, just my opinion you’ll note, the chairs and scooters seem to rule the pavements….meaning that everyone else, being old or frail or young, have to favour them. Some are too big and wide, and some have drivers who think that they alone can use the pavements.
Poor you, and the balls in your feet.
You do understand that they are mainly designed for BLIND people, right ?
I really don’t think there is any need for you to be facetious. And yes I do know they are designed for the blind. That doesn’t alter the facts though….blind, old, young or frail, etc will not stop weak feet and ankles being affected by the bumps.
Any chance the council will deal with all the dog poop on our pavements? Shanklin is terrible, trying to dodge the dog poop on a mobility scooter.
There is someone who lives near me, not sure who, they let thier dog out late of a night so it can poop anywhere in the street. Not does it only affects me but wheelchiar users, prams and kids who happen to walk in it. It is a nightmare trying to get this of wheels, no matter if its wheelchair, mobility scooter or prams.
This is very selfish of dog owners and it needs to be dealt with.
Biggest Pavement Hazard on the Island is people parking their vehicles on the pavement.
IW Council should TOW vehicles away who park on the pavement.
I drive down Great Preston Road, Ryde every evening and there always seems to be vehicles
Parked on the pavement outside the Council Houses.
BAN PAVEMENT PARKING
Totally agree with you……just because the road maybe narrow doesn’t allow people to park on the pavements. Very close to me in one particular road, all the cars park on the pavements, completely blocking any way through.