Blind safety concerns raised over Poundbury shared space

Available for over a year

Royal National Institute for Blind People has raised safety concerns with the Duchy of Cornwall over accessibility of a shared space at Poundbury. The area around Queen Mother Square is designed to improve the road safety environment. It is shared by traffic and pedestrians, but without kerbs, road markings, traffic lights and formal crossing points. The shared space concept relies on drivers slowing down because of uncertainty over who has priority. The RNIB has rigorously campaigned for controlled crossings and detectable kerbs. Last year, Government advised UK local authorities to pause future shared space schemes at the design stage due to 'significant concerns' raised by people and organisations. The Duchy of Cornwall commissioned its own safety audits at Poundbury in 2015 and 2017 and says it will "make changes if deemed necessary for the safety and accessibility of Poundbury for residents, business owners and visitors."