Design themes

As with engagement, some topics came up in the course of the consultation relating more broadly to design. In this part of the report are some issues that emerged from the responses to the five design principles.

Stakeholders were split on the question of having universal design principles as opposed to suiting a design to a location and context (e.g. traffic volumes and place function). Their views also varied in terms of how to weight high quality design principles against the cost of implementing these.

Any skilled observer of the public realm will see a significant and obvious design and implementation failures on many streets. Celebrating projects where accessibility is embedded in design and delivered well (as judged by users, especially disabled people) is vital.”

Maintenance

Comments on maintenance were focused on route surfaces, with some respondents also commenting on the need for maintenance of dropped kerbs and controlled crossing infrastructure (such as rotating cones), including how it is funded and delivered.

Relatedly, one respondent noted that it is helpful when local authorities have accessible fault reporting systems.

Also, the choice of materials in this context came up, suggesting that robust materials and their life-cycle are important considerations, as well as protecting pedestrian spaces from heavy vehicles.

On surfaces, several respondents referred to the importance of these being kept in good repair including after utilities works. One gave details of how poorly maintained surfaces can affect wheelchair users, potentially causing pain, injury or simply being unpassable.

Hazards

Paving being slippery (due to fallen leaves) or uneven and poorly maintained was a recurring theme.

Raised kerbs were generally positively received as a way to distinguish between areas for different modes, however it was noted by several respondents that people with dementia may not be as easily able to perceive the kerb if it is not also demarcated in another way e.g. a contrast between the two areas in colour or material or another boundary element such as a single row of paving bricks.

At the same time, the use of dropped kerbs was encouraged at all crossings and also along longer or residential roads for those using wheelchairs or mobility aids.