CHALLENGES facing people with sight loss in Stourbridge have been highlighted to MP Margot James by the national Guide Dogs charity.
Ms James was taken on a blindfolded walk around some of the town’s more dangerous parts for local guide dog owners after complaints from a constituent.
He raised issues about cars parked on pavements, as well as a lack of pedestrian crossings and pavement markings, especially in Oldswinford, meaning even the simplest of tasks for guide dog owners become a chore.
The MP contacted Guide Dogs to see how they could help her gain more knowledge on how to improve the area for people with sight loss.
Staff at the charity arranged a morning of blindfold walking around the area where, with the help of guide dog Natalie, Ms James was able to get a real sense of the day-to-day dangers facing local users.
Margot James MP was joined on her blindfolded walk by Andrea Jones and Andy Guiel, of Guide Dogs
She said: “It was a really valuable experience and I learnt a lot more than I expected to. You really get the sense of what people with sight loss experience.
“I would recommend anybody to do what I just did, especially our local councillors and the people in the borough who have responsibility for road safety.
“You don’t realise how dangerous how dangerous our roads are, especially the cross at Oldswinford, which has no significant pavement markings or pedestrian crossing, making it very unsafe for people with sight loss.
“When my constituents who have sight loss come to me with their issues and complaints, I will now be able to help them much more than I could have before.”
Ms James was led on the walk, which took her to Corser Street – a road which has a high number of cars blocking its pavements, by Guide Dog’s education and demonstration team leader Andy Guiel.
Andy said: “It has been a great morning. Margot did very well and it’s good that she did this because she has become aware of how dangerous these pavements and junctions actually are.
“As a charity we need to get the message out to as many people as possible; it’s going to take us a long time, as we cover the whole country, but it is great that the MPs in Dudley are getting involved to help make the borough safer for people with sight loss.”
Guide Dogs’ education team carries out demonstrations with a number of organisations, including schools and youth groups, while all their staff and volunteers also get the training.
But without Government funding, the charity relies solely on voluntary donations, with each dog costing £50,000 as it is looked after from birth to death.
Andrea Jones, community engagement officer, added: “To be given a guide dog, a person with sight loss has to go through a vigorous process. However, it’s not means-tested which means everybody who needs one is able to apply.
“All we ask in return is that people pay a one off fee of 50p. That way it is available to all who need them and not just those who can afford to pay.”
Shropshire Mobility, which operates the work of Guide Dogs in Dudley, are currently looking for a range of volunteers as well as donations. For more information, or to find out how you can help, call 0118 983 9756.
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