THE COUNCIL did consult with a range of disability organisations as it planned the new Market Place.
Cllr Philip Mirfin, the executive member for regeneration, was answering a question on the layout from resident Sarah Kerr at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, September 20.
She asked: “How were the public consulted about the new layout of Market Place including the type and colour of stone, the disabled parking and loading layout, the lack of proper kerbs, the rather expensive looking golden studs and, in particularly, the use of the same colour paving stone for the pedestrian crossings?”
Cllr Mirfin replied: “There has been significant public consultation and engagement that has led to the new Market Place design dating back more than 10 years.
“An initial workshop in April 2015 was followed by three more in November 2017. Two of the workshops were specifically for individuals and organisations representing those with various forms of disability including Guide Dogs for the Blind, CLASP, Wokingham Healthwatch and the Alzheimer’s Society. The input was crucial.
In response, Ms Kerr quoted the Department for Transport’s guidance for tactile paving surfaces, noting that it says there should be “contrasts in colour and tone” and “older visually impaired people and people who have lost their sight through certain medical conditions may well have reduced sensitivity in their feet.”
She argued that the blister studs are “barely detectable for the average person through the soles of their shoes” and that they “do not contrast in colour much from the surrounding area”.