A new RNIB tactile map has been added to Stevenage railway station.
- Credit: Govia Thameslink
Govia Thameslink has invested £700,000 to make improvements to a number of railway stations across Hertfordshire for blind and partially sighted passengers.
Thirty-three stations in total have been made more accessible, including new and updated Royal National Institute of Blind People tactile maps, yellow markers on stairs, improved public address systems and clearer platform information displays.
Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We’re listening and delivering on our pledge to make travelling easier for our disabled customers, and others with accessibility needs.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern services in Sussex, has spent £700,000 on the maps. The new “tactile” designs have been unveiled at 33 stations across the network in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). It includes upgrades at Brighton, Crawley, Three Bridges, Worthing, Goring, Shoreham, and Haywards Heath stations. GTR wants the maps to help make stations and services more accessible for blind passengers and those with sight difficulties. Brighton gateline supervisor Adrian Davis and the new tactile map It includes work to refurbish stations with bight white and yellow strips to help partially sighted people see the edge of stairs and know when they are at the top of bottom.
Voter ID plan is a thinly veiled Tory power grab
Readers respond to the government’s move to make photo ID mandatory at polling stations, announced in the Queen’s speech this week
‘These plans would leave even more people feeling unrepresented – surely a dangerous outcome.’ Photograph: Mary Turner/Getty Images
‘These plans would leave even more people feeling unrepresented – surely a dangerous outcome.’ Photograph: Mary Turner/Getty Images
Letters
Thu 13 May 2021 13.48 EDT
Last modified on Thu 13 May 2021 13.52 EDT
I am the chair of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, although I write in a personal capacity. I am extremely concerned that government plans for voter ID will create additional barriers to blind and partially sighted people, in the exercise of our democratic right to vote (More than 2m voters may lack photo ID required under new UK bill, 11 May).
BLIND Hampshire residents are being offered help with their mental health. A new range of mental health guides for blind and partially sighted people is on offer as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has launched the service as part of the campaign which runs until May 16. The guides offer advice and information on many mental health issues including loneliness, sleep difficulties, resilience and mindfulness. Around 323,000 people live with sight loss across the South East, according to RNIB. And many of them will be facing unique wellbeing challenges as a result of lockdown easing.
How DO you cast a vote if you’re blind on the Isle of Wight?
All votes should be equal. Learn how people with sight issues exercise their democratic right to vote. In short, it’s hard – so much so a judge rules it a ‘parody of the electoral process’
If people have accessibility issues, be that with mobility or sight, you might be wondering how they’ll be assisted at polling stations on election day and whether the local authority will be ensuring they can vote independently and in secret.
Local authorities have to ensure that people with accessibility issues are able to use polling stations and Isle of Wight council has told