Agenda item

By Councillor Miller – Equal Pavements Pledge

“This Council;

1.     Welcomes the ‘Equal Pavements Pledge’ aimed at improving the accessibility of footways by Transport for All the disability group focusing on transport;

2.     Notes that the seven-point pledge is to;

1. Listen, and act:  

Engage with and listen to the perspectives of disabled people, across the impairment groups, who have been significantly erased from the conversation. By doing this, we can move forward with accessible, inclusive, pan-impairment solutions which benefit everyone, and the environment.   

2. Keep it clear: 

Maintain a minimum of 1.5m clearance on all pavements, by enforcing the terms of your licenses with businesses. Issue written warnings and follow up with on-site visits to premises to enforce the terms. Use roaming 'inspectors' to ensure pavements aren't blocked. 

3. Cut the clutter: 

Operate a zero-tolerance approach to street clutter. Issue warnings to businesses that obstruct pavements with A-boards, and follow up with fines. Consider temporarily removing permanent fixtures, for example bollards and lamp posts, while outdoor furniture is on pavements to maintain a clear path. Electric Vehicle charging points should only be situated on a pavement as a last resort if there are no other options, and must be placed in a way that will not cause obstruction or trip hazard from trailing cables.  

4. Mind the trash:  

Schedule waste removal at times that will be the least disruptive, reducing the issue of bags of rubbish being left on pavements during periods of high footfall. 

5. Drop the kerbs: 

Undertake a professional accessibility audit of your streetspace and install immediate short-term measures (e.g: asphalt ramps) at problem areas to ensure step-free access. This is a short term and immediate solution while more long-term solutions, including proper dropped kerbs and correct tactile paving where appropriate, are devised and installed. 

6. Protect Blue Badge Bays 

Do not remove parking spaces for Blue Badge holders except where supported by robust data and in consultation with disabled residents. In rare occasions where this is unavoidable, the bays must be relocated close to the original location and any plans should be consulted on with disabled residents to avoid impeding access. 

7. Work with disabled experts 

We want to see local authorities and transport providers commit to a co-production model built on the views and expertise of a wide range of disabled voices. Work with representatives from a pan-impairment organisation who can train your team and work with you to embed the Social Model of Disability to ensure all future streetspace schemes are delivered with accessibility at their core. 

3.     Notes that the pledge is supported by RNIB, Living Streets and Sustrans and has already been taken by the London Assembly and the City of Westminster;

4.     Recognises that as lockdown restrictions gradually begin to lift there is an opportunity to improve accessibility for disabled people;

Therefore agrees that City of Edinburgh council takes this pledge and that the Transport Convenor writes to Transport for All to convey support for the pledge.”