Green councillors take on Guide Dogs blindfold challenge

Green councillors have taken the charity Guide Dogs’ blindfold challenge, which sees participants putting on a blindfold and navigating local streets guided only by dogs, long canes and assistants.

The challenge was started by Guide Dogs to help decision-makers better understand what it’s like for people who are blind or partially sighted.

During the walk around central Hove, Councillors Pete West, Ian Davey and Chris Hawtree encountered the problems regularly faced by people who are blind or partially sighted, including A-boards, street clutter, and cars parked on or blocking pavements.

Greens have committed to ongoing dialogue with the charity to ensure that their views can be taken into account when the council committee makes decisions on issues like road layouts and parking enforcement.

Councillor Pete West, Chair of the Environment Transport & Sustainability Committee said: “While nothing can fully represent the difficulties people who are blind and partially sighted experience, Guide Dogs helped us understand how poor road design, street clutter and pavement quality can make journeys that should be simple much more complicated.

 “It was a truly profound and helpful experience for councillors and officers that took part, and we all really appreciate the commitment made by everyone who came along to show us the ropes last week. I’ve invited Guide Dogs to present their campaigns to the whole council committee, and hope that other councillors from other parties will also benefit from their feedback.”