Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, is supporting the Guide Dogs “Streets Ahead” campaign, to raise awareness of the need to keep streets free from clutter.
Street clutter such as shop advertising boards and wheelie bins is a major problem for pedestrians, and is dangerous and disorientating for blind and partially sighted people. A recent Guide Dogs survey found that 97% of visually impaired respondents found it a problem on a daily of weekly basis, and 57% had suffered an injury from street clutter.
Maria said: “Street clutter has the potential to deter blind and partially sighted people from leaving home alone and I am happy to support Guide Dogs’ call for safer pedestrian footpaths.”