£38,000 safety boost for Paisley pedestrians

Home > Services > Council and government > Council information, performance and statistics > News - release archive

Renfrewshire Council has teamed up with the Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum and the Royal British Legion to improve access to Paisley town centre for blind and partially sighted pedestrians.

The council’s planning and transport department is investing £38,000 in a series of safety improvements around the steps in County Square and on the eastern side of the Cenotaph at Paisley Cross.

The main work will involve installing high-quality white granite discs to highlight the edges of the large steps in County Square. This will make it easier for blind and partially sighted pedestrians to recognise the edges of the steps and so avoid trips or falls.

The proposals have been agreed by council planners following detailed consultation with the Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum and the Royal British Legion.

The work is being carried out by a specialist contractor and will be completed in good time for this year's Remembrance Day commemoration. Councillor Iain Nicolson, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s planning and economic development policy board, said: "It would be fair to say that there has been something of a problem up until now with some people finding it hard to distinguish the edge of the large granite step in Paisley town centre.

"The council has consulted with visually impaired and ex-servicemen's groups and we feel we are putting in place an effective solution to that problem which will be completed quickly and with the minimum of disruption."

Gerry Graham, chair of Renfrewshire Visually Impaired Forum, said: "Our members have obvious difficulties with obstacles around town centres. Steps can be a particular problem when you cannot see well. We are therefore pleased with the considerable help we have had in devising what will be a good quality programme of work in County Square and at Paisley Cenotaph. We very much appreciate Renfrewshire Council’s funding of this work and look forward to maintaining an excellent working partnership."

Press release: Thursday 11 October 2007