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Context: As part of a regional partnership with West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian Councils and NHS Lothian developing shared equality outcomes, Edinburgh Council’s 2020 consultation revealed significant accessibility barriers in the city. A 2020 consultation on equality outcomes revealed significant accessibility barriers in Edinburgh.
Approach: Edinburgh Council Partnership documented and published consultation feedback about accessibility issues.
Implementation:
- Published respondent feedback: “Edinburgh can be difficult to navigate due to street clutter, poor street signage, road and pavement conditions, especially for people with disabilities”
- Documented concerns about insufficient disabled parking and poor enforcement
- Included specific examples from disabled residents: “At the RIE, the disabled bays are too far from the main building”
- Transparent reporting of criticism: “Edinburgh Council has a woeful lack of disabled bays in the city centre”
Impact:
- Provided public record of accessibility challenges
- Created transparency about consultation findings
- Enabled public tracking of issues raised
Key Learning:
- Publishing negative feedback demonstrates transparency
- Detailed consultation documentation enables accountability
- Transparent reporting builds foundation for improvement
(Source: Equality Outcomes 2021-2025 Consultation feedback, Edinburgh Council)