The Guide Dogs’ Christmas event took place in Parliament today and Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt went along to support the charity.
The event focused on the impact of pavement parking on people with a vision impairment, and how we can work together to tackle this across the UK.
During the event, Jo spoke to guide dog owners about their experiences, and she also met young guide dogs in training.
Jo Platt said: “I am always happy to meet up with – and support – Guide Dogs. This charity does so much for those that are vision impaired – and they’ve raised an important issue during today’s event – some people wouldn’t realise the impact that pavement could have on the visually impaired, but it can lead to people placing themselves in considerable danger.”
Due to pavement parking, those with a vision impairment are often forced to walk in the road with traffic they cannot see. Guide Dogs are calling for a new law that would prohibit pavement parking, except in areas exempted by local authorities, as is the case in Scotland and London.