CAMPAIGNING residents have reported those behind the Central6 Street Plan in Westy/Latchford to Warrington Council’s Strategic Equalities Group- complaining the rights of disabled people are being ignored.
In the most recent official Central6 survey, 87% of disabled residents living with closed-off roads in Westy/Latchford said they strongly opposed the Central6 Street Plans. 87% of those over 65s also said they strongly opposed the plans. Yet roads remain blocked in the area.
To highlight the issues the campaign group has created a special video – see above.
Spokesperson for the Campaign to Scrap the Central6 Street Plan, David Marshall said: “Warrington Council has a duty to make sure its departments are not disadvantaging disabled residents and all protected characteristic groups.
“Those with disabilities have spoken after living with blocked streets for months. 87% want the Westy road blocks gone. They want to reverse the increase in traffic jams and pollution so those who care for them can spend more time with them, so the air is less polluted and so they and their families and friends can move freely and visit with ease.”
In March 2022 the Council’s Environment and Transport Department commissioned an Equalities Impact Assessment report on its proposed Central6 Street Plans in Westy/Latchford.
Only 22 residents responded to the consultation. Only 13 of these residents said they thought dropping planters and blocking key roads in Westy/Latchford would improve conditions.
Despite such “poor consultation” the Central6 Street Plans went ahead in June 2022.
The Council’s own Equalities Impact Assessment report warned that people with disabilities might be affected.
The report said: “Road closures associated with LTNs can have negative impacts on disabled people’s mobility, either due to an increase in journey times for themselves or people providing support or care to them in their homes.
A study conducted by Transport for All found that 77% of disabled people surveyed reported a substantial increase in their journey times, and 46% reported that their journeys had become more difficult.
These impacts are on top of the already difficult experiences disabled people are likely to have when travelling. Furthermore, some respondents advised that LTNs were having a knock-on impact on their care and support, as the increase in journey times affected their carers and meant appointments were often delayed or shortened (page 22)”
Mr Marshall added: “It looks like this has turned out to be the case. Disabled residents have been disadvantaged. The Council’s own Equalities Impact Assessment report warned that 19% of people living in the area have a disability or long-term health problem and 10% of the total population in the study area have a disability which limits their day-to-day activities a lot.
“The Equalities Impact Assessment report argued: ‘There are likely to be no major adverse effects on protected characteristic groups due to a shift away from car travel. Any potential effects linked to accessibility/ severance may be mitigated if the design of the LTN is of high quality and accessible.’
“However, there have been adverse effects and the most recent community survey has shown that 87% of people with disabilities do not support the Westy/Latchford road blocks. Yet the blocks on Grange Avenue and other roads stay in place.
Sources of data
• 87% of disabled people strongly/oppose Central6 (Pg 30 Westy LTN – Interim Monitoring Report October 2022)
• 87% Of over 65s strongly/oppose Centra;6 Street Plans Pg 28 Westy LTN – Interim Monitoring Report October 2022)
• 19% of people living in the area have a disability or long-term health problem. (pg 14 Westy Low Traffic Neighbourhood Equality Impact Assessment, March 2022)
• 10% of the total population in the study area have a disability which limits their day-to-day activities a lot. (Pg 41 Westy Low Traffic Neighbourhood Equality Impact Assessment, March 2022)
• The 13 residents who responded were quoted as representing a 72% approval rate for the blocking of roads. (Pg 27 Westy Low Traffic Neighbourhood Equalities Impact Assessment March 2022)
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The Westy LTN is still in its trial period to assess the impacts and we continue to take feedback. The Equalities Impact Assessment identified a range of potential benefits and risks to people with protected characteristics and these are being fully considered.
“We will be consulting further on this trial in the near future, with details to be published in due course, and the views of all residents, including those with disabilities will continue to be taken on board, to help inform a recommendation on whether the scheme is installed permanently or not.”
