Car Ban 'Would Keep Disabled From Shops'
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 14th September 2006.
Plans to extend Haverhill's pedestrian priority scheme would leave disabled people unable to shop there, according to one woman, who says she is already forced to travel to Cambridge to use the Shopmobility Scheme.
But others argue the current scheme is so abused that a total ban on cars 24 hours a day, seven days a week should be imposed.
Opposing views were expressed at Monday's meeting of the Haverhill Partnership Group Forum, where Suffolk County Council's plans to extend the traffic ban and reduce the number of exemptions were unveiled.
Kevin Shipp, traffic management officer for the county council, said there were problems in the High Street and Queens Square because there were too many exemptions, signs were not clear enough, with more education and enforecment needed.
Changes were proposed to the traffic order, which would mean extending the ban in Queen Street from 4pm to 5pm and to every day including Sundays. In the High Street the ban would also be extended to 5pm on Monday to Sunday, staying at 6am to 6pm on Saturday.
Exemptions would be given to emergency service and essential public service vehicles and others such as funeral cars, but not to blue badge holders, nor permit holders, and there would be no loading or unloading. A four-week consultation period would begin and if objections could be overcome it was hoped to introduce the changes just after Christmas.
Marty House, who represents Haverhill and District Local History Group, is a blue badge holder and can only walk around 30 yards. She said this was a major change which would mean many prople like herself simply could not get to the shops anymore.
She suggested an alternative of a rising bollard system like that in Cambridge, only available to those with severe disabilities.
"To me this is running contrary to all the models for equality and equal access for disabled people for the past 15 years. I just don't think it is on. You should not put this in until there is Shopmobility. I cannot shop independently in Haverhill, I have to take the bus to Cambridge to go shopping. From December, councils are going to have to take disabled people's needs into account in the planning process and this is against the spirit of that," Mrs House said.
Ann Thomas, Haverhill town mayor, said she was also a blue badge holder, who found access difficult at times, but wanted full pedestrianisation for the town.
"I want it so that the town is safe and where you are not in danger of being run down." Councillor Thomas said "If you are disabled there are ways around and we do need to look at a Shopmobility Scheme, but I don't think it is a good enough reason not to have pedestrianisation."
George Hatchell said full pedestrianisation was needed, with a Shopmobility Scheme.
"It is time to go forward with pedestrianisation now and close the town centre to all traffic at all times," he said.
"We want children, families and everyone else to walk safely around the town without being nearly knocked down, so that they have the right of way."
Mick Smith said he could not see how Cambridge could be easier to negotiate than Haverhill. "We close it on a Saturday, why can't we do it for the rest of the week? The disabled do need access, but not at the price of a childs safety." he said.
Eric Bratt said vehicles should be banned all day every day and former town mayor Tim Marks said only a physical barrier like gates would prevent people ignoring the restrictions.
But others argue the current scheme is so abused that a total ban on cars 24 hours a day, seven days a week should be imposed.
Opposing views were expressed at Monday's meeting of the Haverhill Partnership Group Forum, where Suffolk County Council's plans to extend the traffic ban and reduce the number of exemptions were unveiled.
Kevin Shipp, traffic management officer for the county council, said there were problems in the High Street and Queens Square because there were too many exemptions, signs were not clear enough, with more education and enforecment needed.
Changes were proposed to the traffic order, which would mean extending the ban in Queen Street from 4pm to 5pm and to every day including Sundays. In the High Street the ban would also be extended to 5pm on Monday to Sunday, staying at 6am to 6pm on Saturday.
Exemptions would be given to emergency service and essential public service vehicles and others such as funeral cars, but not to blue badge holders, nor permit holders, and there would be no loading or unloading. A four-week consultation period would begin and if objections could be overcome it was hoped to introduce the changes just after Christmas.
Marty House, who represents Haverhill and District Local History Group, is a blue badge holder and can only walk around 30 yards. She said this was a major change which would mean many prople like herself simply could not get to the shops anymore.
She suggested an alternative of a rising bollard system like that in Cambridge, only available to those with severe disabilities.
"To me this is running contrary to all the models for equality and equal access for disabled people for the past 15 years. I just don't think it is on. You should not put this in until there is Shopmobility. I cannot shop independently in Haverhill, I have to take the bus to Cambridge to go shopping. From December, councils are going to have to take disabled people's needs into account in the planning process and this is against the spirit of that," Mrs House said.
Ann Thomas, Haverhill town mayor, said she was also a blue badge holder, who found access difficult at times, but wanted full pedestrianisation for the town.
"I want it so that the town is safe and where you are not in danger of being run down." Councillor Thomas said "If you are disabled there are ways around and we do need to look at a Shopmobility Scheme, but I don't think it is a good enough reason not to have pedestrianisation."
George Hatchell said full pedestrianisation was needed, with a Shopmobility Scheme.
"It is time to go forward with pedestrianisation now and close the town centre to all traffic at all times," he said.
"We want children, families and everyone else to walk safely around the town without being nearly knocked down, so that they have the right of way."
Mick Smith said he could not see how Cambridge could be easier to negotiate than Haverhill. "We close it on a Saturday, why can't we do it for the rest of the week? The disabled do need access, but not at the price of a childs safety." he said.
Eric Bratt said vehicles should be banned all day every day and former town mayor Tim Marks said only a physical barrier like gates would prevent people ignoring the restrictions.
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