The charity Guide Dogs has issued a judicial review against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) regarding the legality of the council’s £25 million plans for a shared surface street in Exhibition Road, London. Guide Dogs has called the plans ‘dangerous’ for blind and visually impaired users, and claims that the scheme is unlawful.

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs’ Director of External Affairs said: ‘The Secretary of State for Transport has said that there is no evidence that these schemes offer any greater benefit than traditional traffic calming schemes.’ He continued: ‘Blind and partially sighted people need consistency in the design of streets. If they can’t tell where the road begins and the pavement ends, how can they feel safe?’

RBKC stated that the removal of kerbs would improve access. RBKC Councillor Nick Paget-Brown said: ‘The Guide Dogs for the Blind’s decision to pursue a judicial review of the project is disappointing in light of the work, research and consultation we have undertaken to ensure that the planned changes to Exhibition Road are in the best interests of all users, residents and visitors.’

He added: ‘With over 100 personal accidents in the area in the past three years, it is clear that the current design is not safe.’

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