Ashford experience may not be shared

10 December 2008

Ashford’s recently-opened shared-space scheme will be regarded in future ‘as an important landmark in a fresh approach to integrating traffic into towns’, according to a leading shared space consultant.

However, the new streetscape coincides with calls from government advisers to curb the development of shared surfaces because of risks to disabled people.

The project, which is the largest of its kind in the UK, saw Kent Highway Services abolish the previous one-way circuit which ‘choked’ the town centre, and introduce a new, two-way system.

A 20mph zone has replaced traditional crossing, signs and road markings.

Consultant, Ben Hamilton-Baillie, said that, like all new streetscape projects, it was not likely to be popular for the first few weeks, and would take some months to bed down. But, he added: ‘My prediction is that Ashford will provide an important precedent for the development of shared space in the UK.’

He was impressed by the determination and commitment that Kent County Council had shown ‘to this difficult and critical scheme’. ‘There have been a few compromises along the way, notably with the inclusion of a highly-inappropriate and potentially-damaging signalised crossing,’ he said.

‘But it was already clear from my visit that traffic speeds were well down, and entirely compatible with free movement for pedestrians and cyclists.’

The Government’s advisers on disabled persons’ transport recently warned local authorities against the development of shared space.

‘Our impression is that the views of disabled people are not being given sufficient weight, and that by implementing some types of shared surfaces, local authorities are restricting the safe, independent mobility of many disabled people,’ the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) said.

‘Until there is an acceptable alternative delineator, we would urge the retention of kerbed footways with dropped kerbs at appropriate crossing points as an essential element of streetscape in shared surface areas.’

Kent County Council said local access groups were fully consulted from the outset. ‘As a result, the design was modified to provide a number of specific features to help people with various disabilities, in particular, a textured guide path for the blind,’ said cabinet member for highways, Keith Ferrin.

‘The scheme is now in use and will be monitored over the coming year.’

But Tom Pey, spokesman for Guide Dogs, said: ‘If local authorities do not follow this clear guidance from the Government’s own advisers, then they are effectively excluding blind and partially-sighted and other disabled people from towns across the UK.’

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