Every time I leave my house, I face needless obstacles - Preston wheelchair user calls for urgent action

A Preston student who says unsafe pavements have forced her to use her wheelchair in the road is leading a new campaign calling for urgent action before something really bad happens.

Alicia Cartwright says poor quality pavements, blocked routes, pavement parking and a lack of usable dropped kerbs have made journeys around Preston dangerous and inaccessible.

The campaign, which can be accessed here is calling on Lancashire County Council to commit to a review of pavements and dropped kerbs, led by a range of pavement users, and to introduce a clear and easy way for residents and visitors to report problems.

National evidence shows the scale of the problem. Written evidence submitted by Guide Dogs to the House of Commons Transport Committee found that 77 per cent of wheelchair users had changed their route because of vehicles parked on pavements.

Guide Dogs also says 95 per cent of people with sight loss have been forced to walk in the road because of pavement parking, and one in five have been injured as a result of a pavement-parked car.

The campaign will launch with an online meeting on accessible pavements on Tuesday, June 9, from 5pm to 7pm.

The online meeting will invite residents, students, community organisations and local groups to share their experiences and discuss what action is needed to make Preston’s streets safer and more accessible.

Alicia said: “Every time I leave my house, I face needless obstacles. Pavements are often poor quality, blocked, or so difficult to use that I have to wheel in the road.

“As a power wheelchair user, a lack of usable dropped kerbs can mean I am forced to wheel in traffic until I can safely return to the pavement. My chair is not rated for road use and its top speed is 4mph. That puts me at real risk.

“This is not just about me. Poor quality or unusable pavements put many people at risk, including blind people, parents with prams, elderly people, children and disabled people.”

She added: “We want Lancashire County Council to listen to pavement users and commit to a proper user-led review of pavements and dropped kerbs.”

University of Lancashire Students’ Union, which represents more than 24,000 members, has signed up to support the campaign.

Chak Yee, Students’ Union Representative at University of Lancashire Students’ Union, added: “With over 24,000 members, many of whom study in and around Preston and commute onto campus, this is an important campaign for the Students’ Union to support.

“Our members need to be able to navigate the streets around Preston safely and independently. For disabled students, poor quality pavements, blocked routes and a lack of dropped kerbs can create serious barriers to accessing education and being part of university life. It is unacceptable that disabled students, and others in our community, face risks to their physical safety simply for going out.

“The council needs to listen to the people experiencing these barriers every day and work with them to make pavements safer and more accessible.”

Alongside the call for council action, the campaign will include public awareness work encouraging people, businesses and organisations to keep pavements clear.

Residents, students, community organisations and local groups are invited to sign up for and attend the online meeting to pledge their support. Attendees will be invited to help shape the campaign and decide its name, priorities and next steps.

Lancashire County Council response

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “We recognise that pavement condition and accessibility are important issues, particularly for people who are visually impaired or less mobile.

“Lancashire County Council is responsible for the structural maintenance of pavements across Preston, including repairs and resurfacing where defects are identified. Pavements are inspected regularly, with busier routes checked more frequently, and any safety defects are prioritised for repair based on their severity and risk to the public.”

They added: “Members of the public can report pavement defects to the county council, and these reports help us target inspections and repairs where they are most needed.

“Requests for new or improved dropped kerbs can also be submitted via the council’s contact centre, where locations are assessed and prioritised based on need.”