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14

Apr 2021

Last Updated: 14/04/2021
Community
Community

Outdoor dining forcing Harrogate wheelchair users on to roads

by John Plummer

| 14 Apr, 2021
Comment

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Harrogate charity Disability Action Yorkshire has urged hospitality venues to consider wheelchair users and people with visual impairments when putting tables and chairs on pavements after receiving complaints about wheelchairs being forced on to roads.

wheelchair-at-montpellier

A disability charity in Harrogate has said the sudden increase in outdoor dining has caused safety concerns for wheelchair users and visually impaired people.

Hospitality businesses have taken advantage of new pavement licences this week.

Many have been busy but the extra tables and chairs on pavements has prompted Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, to urge venues to consider people with disabilities.

She said:

"We have heard some concerns already, not only from wheelchair users but also from people with other mobility issues and people with visual impairments.
"It can be difficult if there are tables and chairs on streets where they don't expect them."


Ms Snape said tables and chairs on narrow pavements with no segregated pedestrian area were the main problems. She said it encouraged people to spread out on their chairs and take up the whole pavement, adding:

"It forces passers-by to go on the road, which isn't easy if you are a wheelchair user, especially if there isn't a dropped kerb."






Read more:



  • 'Customer service is key' to improving disability access on Harrogate trains

  • Police and council to check Harrogate venues comply with outdoor rule






The new outdoor cafe culture has caused other problems, with one wheelchair user telling the charity they had been unable to get a coffee because an outdoors area wasn't able to accommodate their wheelchair.



Ms Snape said badly managed queues were also a concern because they forced wheelchair users into roads.

She said:

"It's great to see everywhere so busy and nobody wants to see restrictions. I suspect most businesses just haven't thought about these issues. Be kind. Be respectful. These problems could be easily solved.
"But if it becomes a massive issue something will have to be done and some controls put in place."