Harrogate-based charity Disability Action Yorkshire has explained why many pedestrian crossings in Harrogate town centre do not make a beeping sound to let blind or visually impaired people know it is safe to cross.
It follows a Stray Ferret article published on Saturday about Harrogate man John Raho, 80, who relies on the noise to help him cross the road safely when vehicles stop and the green man appears.
But from the top of Cheltenham Parade up Station Parade and to the Victoria Avenue junction, 9 out of 10 crossings did not make any noise at all, which Mr Raho said was ‘shameful’.
Mr Raho received some messages of support on social media from people who named other pedestrian crossings in the district where they would like to hear a beeping noise.
Could be confusing
Disability Action Yorkshire was founded 84 years ago and helps disabled people live the life of their choosing.
It has headquarters and a training centre on Hornbeam Park, a residential care home on Claro Road, and a holiday lodge in Lincolnshire.
Its chief executive Jackie Snape said she sympathised with Mr Raho’s plight but said having too many crossings making the noise could be confusing.
Ms Snape said:
“[Crossings that don’t beep] is something we hear quite a lot but I do fully understand the reasons.
“It’s where there are two or three crossings close to each other. People could get confused and walk into the roads.”
Jackie Snape, Disability Action Yorkshire chief executive.
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Ms Snape said there needed to be greater awareness that crossings that don’t beep have a small cone underneath that can be touched. The cone turns when the green man lights up to indicate it is safe to cross.
But she added that since covid, many people did not feel comfortable touching it.
Many crossings have a plastic cone underneath that turns when it is safe to cross
Victoria Avenue junction
Whilst Ms Snape said it would be confusing to have too many crossings on Station Parade making the beeping noise, the silent crossing at the Victoria Avenue junction “needs looking at” because it wasn’t in close proximity to other crossings.
She said crossings like this should be reported to North Yorkshire County Council through its website.
Ms Snape said:
“We’ve reported machines in the past when they have stopped working. Unless they are reported, the council does not know they are not working properly.”
Ms Snape added that if any blind or partially sighted person would like to report a crossing that does not make a beeping noise, the charity can do it on their behalf through its website or by calling 01423 855419.
