Agenda item

Open Access Policy

Cambridge as a City which actively seeks to reduce discrimination against those with disability in the Built Environment.

Council notes that those with disabilities are impeded by a variety of obstacles as they move through the built environment in Cambridge, and that many of these are outside the direct control of the City Council (e.g. on public highway, in shops, on public and private land including NHS premises, and the behaviour individuals and business).

Council notes that discrimination worsens inequality by damaging the health, well-being, life chances, life expectancy, productivity and wealth of those affected. This is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations. Reducing such inequity plays an important part in the WHO Healthy Cities program and city sustainability.

Council notes that the difficulties in reducing or removing these obstacles are legion and has made a good start at tackling the issue with the Cambridge City Centre Accessibility Review Action Plan.

Council notes that only a small proportion of all those with a disability are easily recognised, and that most of our citizens over 60 will have impairments.

Council notes the breadth of issues which include

·        Obstacles on road and pavement that impede progress, confuse guide dogs, create trip and other hazards, have insufficient contrast to be recognised by some visually disabled

·        Route obstacles such as traffic lights with timings too fast for a slower person to cross, lights without a tactile feedback button for deaf-blind, poor and confusing road crossings

·        Support issues such as public seats without a variety of heights, available public toilets, disabled drop off and collection points

·        Behaviours that create problems including narrowing a cycle path so that those cyclists with balance problems are prevented from using that route, wheelie bins on the pavement, pavement conflicts between disabled pedestrians and cyclists, construction activity which diverts disabled people onto the road or provides barriers with poor visibility causing a trip hazard them.

Council notes that there are solutions (even if partial) for all the City’s Open Access issues and that a clear statement of principle, of our intention and direction, will help empower all the City’s residents, organisations and businesses to become more aware and active in support of our Open Access Policy.

The Council endorses the principle of Open Access in our Built Environment: our Built Environment should not discriminate against citizens and visitors with disability of any form,

·        will actively seek to reduce such discrimination in all publicly accessible areas of the City,

·        recognises that, in order to reduce this discrimination, it needs to work with many organisations and agencies, public and private, and with its citizens to develop policies and practices which reduce the existing obstacles for disabled walkers and cyclists, and for those using other forms of transport,

·        recognises that a means to prioritise, measure and publicly report progress, policies and the process by which they were agreed, and steer this effort is developed,

·        recognises the important part that our residents, students, businesses and visitors can play and welcomes their involvement.   

Councillor Moore proposed and Councillor Pippas seconded the following motion:

Open Access Policy

Cambridge as a City which actively seeks to reduce discrimination against those with disability in the Built Environment.

Council notes that those with disabilities are impeded by a variety of obstacles as they move through the built environment in Cambridge, and that many of these are outside the direct control of the City Council (e.g. on public highway, in shops, on public and private land including NHS premises, and the behaviour individuals and business).

Council notes that discrimination worsens inequality by damaging

the health, well-being, life chances, life expectancy, productivity and wealth of those affected. This is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations. Reducing such inequality plays an important part in the WHO Healthy Cities program and city sustainability.

Council notes that the difficulties in reducing or removing these obstacles are legion and has made a good start at tackling the issue with the Cambridge City Centre Accessibility Review Action Plan.

Council notes that only a small proportion of all those with a disability are easily recognised, and that most of our citizens over 60 will have impairments.

Council notes the breadth of issues which include

·         Obstacles on road and pavement that impede progress, confuse guide dogs, create trip and other hazards, have insufficient contrast to be recognised by some visually disabled

·         Route obstacles such as traffic lights with timings too fast for a slower person to cross, lights without a tactile feedback button for deaf-blind, poor and confusing road crossings

·        Support issues such as public seats without a variety of heights, available public toilets, disabled drop off and collection points

·         Behaviours that create problems including narrowing a cycle

          path so that those cyclists with balance problems are prevented from using that route, wheelie bins on the  pavement, pavement conflicts between disabled pedestrians and cyclists, construction activity which diverts disabled people onto the road or provides barriers with poor visibility causing a trip hazard them.

Council notes that there are solutions (even if partial) for all the City’s Open Access issues and that a clear statement of principle, of our intention and direction, will help empower all the City’s residents, organisations and businesses to become more aware and active in support of our Open Access Policy.

The Council endorses the principle of Open Access in our Built Environment: our Built Environment should not discriminate against citizens and visitors with disability of any form,

·         will actively seek to reduce such discrimination in all publicly accessible areas of the City,

·         recognises that, in order to reduce this discrimination, it needs to work with many organisations and agencies, public and private, and with its citizens to develop policies and practices which reduce the existing obstacles for disabled walkers and cyclists, and for those using other forms of transport,

·         recognises that a means to prioritise, measure and publicly report progress, policies and the process by which they were agreed, and steer this effort is developed,

·         recognises the important part that our residents, students, businesses and visitors can play and welcomes their involvement.

Resolved (unanimously):

To agree the motion as set out above.