Blind pensioner from Colchester takes petition to No 10

Sheila Townsend, 86, previously told the Gazette someone could be "killed" if the East Hill roadworks are completed.

Mrs Townsend, who was diagnosed in her 50s with a condition that causes retinal detachment, visited Number 10 Downing Street on Monday.

She was joined by campaigners from across the UK representing the National Federation of the Blind UK (NFBUK) to present petitions about ‘floating’ bus stops.

Her petition also called for the East Hill works to be halted and redesigned.

Outside Number Ten - left to right - Jonathan Dixon, director of operations at charity Essex Sight, Colchester resident Sheila Townsend, sighted assistant Emma Cross, Sarah Gayton, and Sarah Leadbetter (Image: Simon Lamrock)

Speaking about the experience, Mrs Townsend said: “As I was there to hand a petition, it was quite awesome really.

“It was an exciting time. When I knocked on the door of Downing Street, I had to say why I was there and hand my petition over.

“When I came out, I was interviewed by ITV and that went quite well. The whole thing was a bit surreal because I’d never done anything like it before.

“I wasn’t nervous or worried. I just got on with what I was meant to.”

East Hill is undergoing changes as part of the overall University to the City Centre project, which aims to improve walking and cycling in Colchester.

The year-long East Hill works, which began in July, include a new cycle lane, upgraded bus stops with new shelters and raised kerbs for accessibility.

Floating bus stops are layouts where cycle lanes cross bus stops, bringing passengers, pedestrians and cyclists together.

Mrs Townsend claims the design of four East Hill bus stops will endanger partially sighted people by creating shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.

The campaigner has compared the road and ongoing works to an “assault course” and says navigating it on foot is dreadful.

Mrs Townsend presented 930 signatures to Downing Street and is calling for action.

“I really am genuinely concerned. It does worry me enormously. It is so dangerous,” she said.

“It worries me that patients coming out of the doctor’s surgery will be walking across a cycle lane.

(Image: NQ)

“I am very concerned someone will be hurt.

“If it goes ahead, it will happen. I don’t want it to be me.

“I’m up and down that hill every day. It is my access to the city centre.”

During the trip, the campaigners met MPs Caroline Noakes, Steve Race and David Reed, along with other staff members.

“They actually listened to what we were saying to them,” Mrs Townsend said.

“I wrote in my petition’s covering letter that the signatures represented the silent voices of Colchester, supporting what we are trying to get Andy Burnham to do.

The walk to Downing Street - Sheila taking the lead (Image: Simon Lamrock)

“I hope they will discuss this in Parliament. I feel more hopeful than I have in the past.”

Sarah Gayton, street access campaign coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind UK, attended Downing Street with Mrs Townsend and Jonathan Dixon, operations director at Essex Sight.

She said: “It was amazing that Sheila was able to represent the NFBUK. We were extremely proud to give her a voice at the heart of Government, directly to the Prime Minister.”

“The bus stops being installed in East Hill are floating bus stops, and some of the designs are among those paused by the Department for Transport.”

Downing Street - Sarah Gayton and Sheila Townsend on the left alongside other campaigners (Image: Simon Lamrock)

The East Hill works are due to continue until next summer.

Essex County Council said the scheme had undergone extensive design development, safety audits and independent review, and was supported by Active Travel England.

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are sorry to hear about Mrs Townsend’s concerns and encourage her to contact the project team directly so we can discuss them in more detail.

“The route along East Hill forms part of wider plans to enhance travel connections between the city centre and east Colchester, linking the university, Greenstead and the future Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

"The scheme is now well into construction, having been subject to extensive design development, safety audits and independent review. The design also has the support of Active Travel England, the national body responsible for active travel infrastructure.

"Accessibility has been an important consideration throughout the design process, and local groups were able to provide their views throughout. The bus stop areas are wide and spacious, and we have incorporated feedback from local accessibility groups at an early stage to help shape the final design. This includes workshops with local groups.

Blind resident Sheila Townsend and National Federation for the Blind UK's street access campaign coordinator Sarah Gayton in East Hill (Image: NQ)

"Shared-use areas are a common feature of walking and cycling infrastructure. While full segregation between cyclists and pedestrians is not always achievable within the constraints of existing roads and surrounding properties, the design includes measures to encourage cyclists to reduce their speed. Changes in materials and the use of bollards will help clearly define the space and reinforce pedestrian priority.

"Based on the extensive Safety and design audits to date we are confident the scheme is safe. We of course will monitor usage and respond appropriately should any issues be raised once the full scheme is in place.

"We are happy to meet with the National Federation of the Blind to discuss their concerns and have offered dates to them to meet with senior officers and the project team.

“We are also very conscious of accessibility during construction, and the onsite team are undertaking regular audits on site to ensure that the traffic management remains safe and accessible in line with best practice. This has included keeping one side of the road clear of traffic management.”