![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_John-Edgley-and-dog-is-Dodger.jpg\")
John Edgley with his guide dog Dodger(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nThe problems were one of many issues raised by a local charity<\/p>\n
15:16, 12 Jul 2025Updated 15:18, 12 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
John Edgley with his guide dog Dodger(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
People who are blind and partially sighted say they\u2019re avoiding a Merseyside town centre as regeneration works made everyday barriers even worse. As major changes are taking place in Wirral<\/a>, they want to make sure they\u2019re included as part of that future.<\/p>\n The ECHO<\/a> approached the Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted (WSBPS) after concerns were raised by Conservative councillor Ian Lewis about floating bus stops, a type of stop where those wishing to get on and off a bus have to cross a cycle lane. Examples of these can be seen on Harrison Drive in Wallasey<\/a> and Fender Lane in Bidston.<\/p>\n Cllr Lewis argues the bus stops \u201cwill never be safe for pedestrians\u201d and asked the council to pause its plans following a government announcement. Sheila Spearing, who lives near one of the stops, said: \u201cI always feel vulnerable walking out into the bike lane for a bus to stop,\u201d adding: \u201cI feel as though I am standing in the road rather than on the pavements […] it\u2019s a bit scary.\u201d<\/p>\n Wirral Council said: “The Government has indicated that it is expecting to ask local authorities to pause proposed schemes which include shared use bus boarders but no formal instruction has yet been received from Government, nor how this would affect existing bus stop infrastructure. Once this information is available, the council will review and act accordingly.”<\/p>\n However the issues affecting those at WSBPS were wider ranging from the way crossings are designed, antisocial cycling and driving, fears of being hit by delivery riders to the disruption caused by regeneration works in Birkenhead<\/a> town centre. The ECHO <\/a>revealed earlier this week the scheme is behind schedule and massively over budget and a review has been launched by the council.<\/a><\/p>\n Though many have complained about the difficulty navigating the works in Birkenhead<\/a>, this is even harder for John Edgley and his guide dog Dodger. He told the ECHO<\/a>: “I just don’t go to Birkenhead. It’s just too confusing. The nearest bank I use is in Birkenhead. I can’t do it on the phone because of my eyesight.<\/p>\n “If you go down at the moment, you’ve got to go down one bit across and back around. You are like zig zagging. It’s like a jigsaw.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the time I have got to where I want to go, I just want to go home. It’s just draining mentally. It’s just mentally draining. What obstacles have they put in our way again?<\/p>\n “There’s still a few shops I like going to. I try to stay out of Liverpool because it’s just too busy. Accessibility wise, it’s good for me and the stuff in the shops are brilliant but it’s busy and because of the Birkenhead works, I wouldn’t go there. A lot of people won’t go to Birkenhead because of how the roads are now.”<\/p>\n He said there were also issues in Liverpool with delivery riders who ride on pavements all across the city centre which worried both him and Dodger. He told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cYou have got all the restaurants that use them.<\/p>\n \u201cI know they have got to get their food and that but they just need to slow down. I know they need to get from A to B but they need to just show a bit more consideration.<\/p>\n “They need to take more responsibility because they think because they are on bikes and on scooters, they can just mount the pavement so they can get there quickly. You see them when they get caught in traffic, they come onto the curb.”<\/p>\n The ECHO<\/a> approached three leading food delivery companies to respond to John\u2019s concerns. A Just Eat spokesperson said: \u201cJust Eat is committed to being a responsible partner and supporting the local communities we operate in, we’re always sorry to hear when there are community concerns and will always work to address them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe set clear standards and requirements for those who deliver on our behalf. All independent couriers sign a robust Service Agreement, and we regularly provide guidance on safe and responsible behaviour. We will always investigate safety breaches and take swift action where appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n An Uber Eats spokesperson said: \u201cThe safety of our customers and the general public is a top priority for Uber Eats. All couriers are required to adhere to the Highway Code, and any reports of couriers breaching road laws can result in a courier being removed from the Uber Eats app.\u201d<\/p>\n A Deliveroo spokesperson said: \u201cDeliveroo takes its responsibilities in the communities where we operate very seriously and we’re proud to support local restaurant partners by connecting them with customers in the area. We regularly communicate with riders about respecting the neighbourhoods where they work, as well as respecting the Highway Code.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the onboarding process, every rider is provided with road safety information which includes specific information on never riding on the pavement. If incidents are reported to us involving riders, we investigate and work with the authorities to take appropriate action where necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Paula](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Paula-Cartwright.jpg\")
Paula Cartwright said the council needed to see what it was like for them(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n