Advertising board changes in Scunthorpe town centre criticised by campaigner for blind people

Acampaigner for the blind says a move by North Lincolnshire Council to try to make the High Street safer for the visually impaired is actually a backwards step.

Edward Buckley, who founded North Lincolnshire Talking News 30 years ago, says the authority's move to create a designated area for advertising boards in the High Street will only create further problems.

The step was taken just weeks after the Telegraph highlighted concerns raised by blind people that advertising boards in the town were a barrier to them getting from place to place.

The council said at the time it would look into ways it could improve the situation – although it says the new measures were not taken for this reason.

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But Mr Buckley said at a time when the council should be doing all it can to attract people to the town centre, this move will only further people's concerns.

"At the minute, the council wants people to come in to the town, but they are making the experience worse with all of these obstacles, with people stood talking, bikes and the A frames," he said.

"It is dangerous and just an extra reason not to come in to town.

"Outside the shops is one thing but having them in the middle of the street is ridiculous.

"They are making the experience worse by having all these obstacles.

"In my opinion this is a big step backwards."

An example of the new A-frame arrangement can be seen outside the Natwest branch on Scunthorpe High Street.

The area is clearly marked as an area for A-frames, with nearby shops putting their boards in this area.

However, there are still boards outside many of the stores.

Mr Buckley has previously told the Telegraph that provisions for the blind had got worse over the past 30 years.

Mr Buckley also questioned the use of the A-frames in today's society.

"I am sympathetic with the shopkeepers, more than most, but when you have such a big window space, why do they need anything else?" he said.

A North Lincolnshire Council spokesman said: "We have started a trial where we provide a space for A-frame signs on a section of the High Street.

"The aim is to keep the main pedestrian areas free from obstructions but also give businesses a space to place their signs.

"We have done this as a response to the number of A-frames appearing on stretches of the High Street that are busy with pedestrians."