Drop Kerbs

The request was partially successful.

Martin Lawrence

Dear Worcestershire County Council,
Freedom of Information Request

It seems to me that Worcestershire County Council and Councillors need to be honest regarding their attitude to equality in Malvern, wheelchair users should be able to park in the designated Belle Vue Terrace disabled car park space, then, in safety, mount the nearby kerb in order to visit our shops, the Town Council offices, post office and eating establishments.

Worcestershire County Council Highways Department are responsible for roads and pavements in Malvern, I have therefore sent this ‘Freedom of Information’ request asking “With regard to the following, what plans are in place or under consideration for the provision of drop-kerbs in Malvern Town, I also pose supporting questions below?”

Complainant disabled residents and I consider that Worcestershire County Council have neglected the needs of wheelchair users in Malvern Town.

There are no drop kerbs in the vicinity of the ‘new’ disabled parking bay on Belle Vue Terrace, which is near to the street door to the Town Council Offices; as a consequence a wheelchair user has to either travel along the road to the entrance to Robson Ward, where there are dropped kerbs, or be assisted up the kerb.

There are no drop kerbs either side of the pedestrian crossing on Worcester Road, near to the junction to St Ann’s Road; there are no raised dimples to assist those that are poor sighted, either.

Having crossed the road from west to east on this pedestrian crossing and travelling towards Worcester, there is no dropped kerbs on the little lane that used to give access to the rear of the Foley Hotel; this is more apparent on the north side of this road;

Travel a little further north, in the front of the Foley Hotel there is a traffic island, and there are no dropped kerbs on this; granted, a wheelchair can use the area which use to be used by vehicles and circumnavigate the island, (in fact if a dray, or hotel service vehicle is delivering to the hotel, the pavement part of this island is not available to pedestrians, or the disabled, as these park over it), but there is no dropped kerb to the pavement to the north of this area.

The WCC website http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/dro...

indicates the cost of a drop-kerb being between £750 and £3,000 for a contractor engaged by private individual, however, what would the cost be to WCC of installing a 1.8 metre footway crossing?

Would WCC permit public fundraising in order to pay for drop kerbs; I am confident that residents and businesses would rally to such an appeal that I and some disabled friends wish to launch?

Does WCC already have funds earmarked for the support of the disabled by way of drop-kerbs, negating the need for public fundraising?

Yours faithfully,

Martin Lawrence

BECFOI (BEC), Worcestershire County Council

Dear Mr Lawrence

 

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS 2004- INFORMATION REQUEST CONCERNING
Drop Kerbs

 

Thank you for contacting Worcestershire County Council.

 

I acknowledge your request for information received on 5 June 2014.

 

Your request is being considered and we will contact you within the 20
working day timescale as defined by the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004.

 

The Regulations define a number of exemptions, which may prevent release
of the information you have asked for. If this is the case we will write
to you and also inform you of your rights of appeal.

 

In some circumstances Worcestershire County Council (WCC) may make a
charge for this information. This will be considered and we will tell you
if a fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the
information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for
responses will be suspended until receipt of the payment and payment must
be made within three months.

 

In some circumstances WCC may need to consult with third parties (people
not employed by WCC) about the release of information relating to them or
their organisation. Please let me know if you do not wish your name to be
released to any third parties we may need to contact in order to fulfil
this request.

 

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Linda Hirschhorn

Text Processor/Clerical Assistant

Business Administration and Systems

Business, Environment and Community

County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP

Email: [1][email address]

[2]www.worcestershire.gov.uk

 

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References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/

BECFOI (BEC), Worcestershire County Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Lawrence

 

Please find attached response to your information request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Linda Hirschhorn

Text Processor/Clerical Assistant

Business Administration and Systems

Business, Environment and Community

County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP

Email: [1][email address]

[2]www.worcestershire.gov.uk

 

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/

Martin Lawrence

Dear BECFOI (BEC),
When will I receive the information requested, the disabled are still waiting to hear if anything is likely to happen.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Lawrence

BECFOI (BEC), Worcestershire County Council

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Lawrence

Our response to your information request was sent to you on 3 July. This response is attached above.

Yours sincerely

Linda Hirschhorn
Text Processor/Clerical Assistant
Business Administration and Systems
Business, Environment and Community
County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP
Email: [email address]
www.worcestershire.gov.uk

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