PARTIALLY blind John Hammond used the question time slot at Fenland Council’s quarterly meeting to spotlight problems disabled people face getting around.

He asked council leader Alan Melton if he supported blind children, blind people walking with guide dogs and long canes and those with disabilities that cannot stand up for themselves.

Mr Hammond explained that there are certain premises in March where delivery vehicles park on pavements to gain access and he could not understand why these premises do not have appropriate parking facilities.

Cllr Melton assured Mr Hammond the council supported blind and disabled people and understood that there are difficulties with regard to delivery vehicles parking and gaining access to premises;

He said the council was responsible for its own buildings and he would be surprised if adequate accessibility was not available for deliveries but would carry out a survey to ensure this was the case.

He said he would speak to other agencies, including highways, county council and police and also to shops and premises to bring their attention to this problem and ask what steps they are prepared to take in order to address it.

Mr Hammond said he had already contacted other parties about his concerns and claimed to have evidence of his guide dog being assaulted “and yet nothing has been done and this is a disgrace to Fenland”.

Cllr Melton explained that county council members of Fenland would take up his concerns “and members of the press have heard these concerns. I am sure that if the press were minded to do so they would help out and campaign to address this problem”.