You are better off than the 1.4 million visually impaired people and guide dogs in the UK, to whom badly placed street furniture, street bollards, overgrown hedges, café chairs, and holes in the pavement are obstacles that turn an everyday trip to the shops into a nightmare.

In a recent survey of guide dog owners, by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, (GDBA) 87% cited overgrown hedges and low hanging branches as the greatest obstacle. This was followed by cars parked on pavements (81%), and badly positioned wheelie bins and piles of rubbish (58%).

The charity is re-launching its 'Top of The Probs' chart for a second year during its Safer Streets campaign, highlighting the dangers street obstacles.

The campaign aims to encourage town planners, retailers, owners of bars or restaurants and members of the public to think about the needs of blind and partially sighted people, when planning pedestrian zones, trading, or simply walking around towns or villages.

The survey revealed that lives of guide dog owners would be made easier if litter-louts cleaned up their act. Particular concern was expressed about broken glass (34 per cent) injuring guide dogs' paws and chewing gum (22 per cent) sticking in dogs' hair.

Guide dog owner respondents felt endangered by badly fenced roadworks, with concern also expressed about badly maintained pedestrian routes. They feared falling down unprotected holes in pavements, which might be difficult for a guide dog to see in order to navigate its owner around the obstacle.

Other unnecessary obstructions identified in the survey included discarded bicycles outside shops, skateboards and badly positioned lamp-posts.

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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