Kerbs will be looked at again after complaints over multi-million pound regeneration
Mobility scooter users in Newton Abbot say the new kerbs can be hard to navigate
Parts of a multi-million pound transformation of Newton Abbot town centre will be looked at again - following complaints from mobility scooter users and other pedestrians.
Soem claim the kerbs are too high, leaving them stuck in the roads at times as they travel long distances to try and find a suitable kerb.
Mike Hocking, Chair of Newton Abbot Community Transport Association, said: ‘When this glaring omission was brought to my attention I was shocked.
"Our charity works closely with people who have mobility issues and supports them with services such as Shopmobility. How can a scheme of this scale, allegedly meant to deliver a more accessible and safer shopping experience, have failed to include dropped curbs?
"Even the artists’ impressions published before construction got underway showed a wheelchair user and someone in a mobility scooter. This is a major gaffe and needs sorting urgently."
A joint statement from both Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council said: "The Queen Street Enhancements scheme has improved pedestrian safety by widening pavements, narrowing the carriageway, and reducing the number of vehicles. With new traffic restrictions, a lowered speed limit and fewer parked cars, pedestrians, including those with mobility issues, can cross the road more safely. As the works are nearing completion, Devon County Council are monitoring the use of Queen Street to understand how visitors are using the space and to identify any issues.
"Before introducing any further interventions, it is essential to assess the scheme once fully constructed and with all infrastructure in place, including benches and trees, to understand what changes need to be made and where. This is a standard part of any scheme delivery and will take place through a Road Safety Audit and an Active Travel England inspection. We need to ensure any remedial works recommended by these inspections are not held up by introducing further works at this stage, ahead of the audits.
"New installations such as dropped kerbs will be considered as part of these upcoming inspections to ensure they are safely located and designed for everyone. It should also be noted that no dropped kerbs were provided at the western end of Queen Street before the enhancement scheme started."