FORMBY'S
shops are being targeted by "bureaucratic stupidity"
according to customers and shoppers alike. The
village has huge pavements and is well known for its
colourful displays outside shops. Sadly, all this has to
change according to Sefton MBC, who say that displays
outside the shops are a hazard to those of poor vision.
One blind customer who
lives in Formby and uses the village every day told us:-
"I hate the way we are being
blamed for this. I have never found the shop displays a
problem and no one has ever consulted us, as far as I can
recall, about problems faced by us in the village. On this
subject, the worse problem is not the shop displays, it is
the council's very own cycle stands. Bikes stick out all
over the place. The stands don't have any warnings around
them and bikes easily fall over, becoming a real trip hazard
to both the sighted and non-sighted. The next hazard again
is down to the council. Because of a lack of cleaning of the
pavements are often covered by wet leaves and litter. This
is a really nasty hazard as people slip over, again sighted
and non-sighted. I think it is very funny and sad that the
local newsagent who supplies a litter bin has to remove it,
or face a fine. How does its removal help us?"
The council has claimed that the
displays, including the large dustbin, above, are a hazard
and that if they don't take action, the shops could be
liable for any resultant accidents. They also point out that
it is the law not to obstruct the pavement. Sadly, they have
not realised that some of the businesses who have been
threatened with fines and confiscation of the so-called
'offending items' don't obstruct the council owned pavement.
In fact the objects in question are on the property of the
businesses in question!
Send us your views on
this topic to:-
news24@southportreporter.com
