Thank you for the opportunity to give evidence to the Enterprise, Infrastructure and Skills Committee post legislative scrutiny on the Active Travel Act. 

Guide Dogs Cymru andRNIB Cymru are clear that there has been very little engagement with blind and partially sighted people, or with organisations that represent their views, on the development of Integrated Active Travel Networks. 

The Delivery Guidance states -

3.45 When considering which persons to consult, in addition to those who have requested to be consulted, local authorities should specifically seek to engage with groups with protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010. Local authorities should consider the format of both the map and the consultation to best meet this duty. For example, by producing an easy read version of the consultation. In particular, local authorities should bear in mind access to the consultation for people with visual impairments as, by its nature, the map will be a visual representation. Alternative which will make what is set out in the map clear to anyone who cannot access maps, such as site visits, should also be planned for as part of the consultation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, in his plenary statement on 27 February,

http://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/4908?lang=en-GB#A41859

referred to some local authority plans falling short around engagement. Although there are examples of best practice, such as the Cardiff Council Access Focus Group and strong commitment to inclusive consultation in Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Swansea, we believe that people with sight loss have not had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the plans. 

This is particularly disappointing given the simple and cost effective methods of engagement we outlined in the active travel Newsletter (issue 4, September 2017, (attached)). We would suggest that Local Authorities monitor their engagement with blind and partially sighted people on an ongoing basis, act on their feedback and publicly record this information.

We ask that the Committee's final recommendations reflect our concerns, so that people with sight loss can benefit from more safe and accessible routes and have the same opportunities as the rest of their community to contribute to their development. 

Yours sincerely,

Andrea Gordan

Engagement Manager, Guide Dogs Cymru

Elin Edwards

External Affairs Manager, RNIB Cymru