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Context: Consultation revealed that Edinburgh’s transport and planning approaches created barriers for disabled residents.
Approach: Following consultation feedback, recognition of the need to balance environmental goals with accessibility requirements.
Implementation:
- Recognition of systemic barriers: Consultation documented that “Edinburgh can be difficult to navigate due to street clutter, poor street signage, road and pavement conditions, especially for people with disabilities”
- Specific accessibility challenges identified: Including lack of disabled parking and proper enforcement
- Policy tension highlighted: “Recognition that Edinburgh’s target of being net-zero and tackling use of cars / promotion of active travel excludes disabled people, e.g. single line parking, cycling paths with floating bus stops, taxi provision”
- Accessibility investment committed: Annual £400,000 budget ring-fenced for accessibility upgrades with dedicated Accessibility Officer post
Impact:
- Consultation revealed the need to consider accessibility alongside environmental goals
- Commitment to systematic accessibility improvements across 600+ operational buildings
- Consultation provided documented evidence of accessibility challenges to inform policy development
- Increased awareness of disabled people’s needs in transport planning
Key learning:
- Environmental and accessibility goals can be in tension and require careful balancing
- Consultation reveals hidden barriers that planners may not recognise
- Disabled people’s lived experience is essential in identifying access barriers
- Investment in accessibility requires dedicated resources and systematic approach
(Source: Equality Outcomes 2021-2025 Consultation feedback, Edinburgh Council and City of Edinburgh Council – Equality and Diversity Framework 2021-2025