Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Why Can't They Obey Their Own Rules..?

Another damning report into the £3m Sutton High Street redevelopment has revealed a catalogue of “design faults”, which could put disabled residents’ lives at risk.
The report IS compiled by a disability charity, it's true, but they aren't asking for the moon here; all they are asking for is the council to follow the DfT guidelines:
...the development flouts Department for Transport guidance by not properly warning visually-impaired residents about roads, meaning they could potentially walk into traffic.

The stage areas in Trinity Square were described as “very hazardous to people with disabilities” with inadequate tactile paving to warn people of the drop.
All things that a council inspector would be pretty hot on, should a local businessman not comply with such guidelines, I suspect. Not to mention the councils' disability spokesman...
Councillor Jayne McCoy, Sutton Council’s spokeswoman on the town centre development, said: “The council takes safety precautions for people with disabilities very seriously, which is why Scill was asked to be involved with the project from the beginning.

“It was therefore extremely frustrating to find the initial Scill recommendations were not carried out as we had expected.

“We continue to work closely with Scill to see that this is rectified and we are taking actions to see that its concerns are urgently addressed and implemented as soon as possible.”
Why was no-one ensuring that the recommendations weren't carried through? Wouldn't that have been the responsibility of someone in your team?

If so, will you be 'taking actions' over that..?

4 comments:

Roger Thornhill said...

TBH, there needs to be a better solution than "tactile paving".

Captain Haddock said...

"Why Can't They Obey Their Own Rules" ?

Jobs for the boys, innit ? ..

Keeps more Town Hall jobsworth's in work ..

Ancient and tattered airman said...

Just goes to show they need either more staff in the offices or to wake up the serried ranks of inept staff they already have.

JuliaM said...

"TBH, there needs to be a better solution than "tactile paving"."

I find it a pain (literally) when I've got thin-soled sandals on...

"Just goes to show they need either more staff in the offices or to wake up the serried ranks of inept staff they already have."

The definitely DON'T need the former..!