MALVERN’S MP Harriett Baldwin has urged drivers to keep their eyes open for risks posed to blind and partially-sighted people when they park on the roadside.
Mrs Baldwin was taken out by guide dog trainer Karen Butler to get an insight into the challenges faced by people who can’t see roadside obstacles.
The MP was led by Karen and trainee guide dog Ross on a walk around Barnards Green to highlight issues faced by blind pedestrians.
“I was taken on only a very short walk with Karen and Ross but I found it very challenging to make progress knowing there were challenges like parked cars and advertising boards on the pavement ahead,” said Mrs Baldwin.
“Guide dogs give blind people a crucial freedom to get out and about but this is clearly challenging along the high streets of smaller towns where people park wherever they like to pop into shops.
“There are lots of trainers who live locally and while dogs are trained to cope with these challenges it seems wrong that a minority of drivers should park so thoughtlessly and I urge drivers to think more about where they park and the obstructions that they may be causing to pedestrians.
“While we were walking, a number of cars parked illegally on the pavement causing potential harm to pedestrians and I have agreed to raise this issue with the local authorities to try and enforce bad parking behaviour.”
