VIDEO: Mayor given taste of obstacles blind and partially sighted people face

The Mayor of St Edmundsbury has been given a taste of the obstacles a blind or partially sighted person faces around Bury St Edmunds town centre.

On a busy Saturday, Cllr Patrick Chung donned a ‘mind fold’ which blacked out his vision but allowed him to keep his eyes open and was guided around by Helen Sismore, from charity Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The walk aimed to make him aware of the issues blind and partially sighted people face in the town centre such as A-boards being placed too far out into pavements and cars parked over the pavement kerb.

Cllr Chung said the exercise made him realise how difficult it can be for those with limited sight and would report the issues raised to St Edmundsbury Borough Council. Miss Sismore, community engagement officer East Anglia for the charity, said they are also asking the Government to give councils greater enforcement powers to deal with parking on pavements.