YORK Access Group has always supported the Blind & Partially Sighted and others including wheelchair users and mothers with buggies, particularly side by side twins, in opposing the indiscriminate proliferation of A-boards, and the proposal of a licence fee for their use is an interesting one, but we must agree with The Press Comment opposing a total ban.

However, there are situations where they are unacceptable, and they should never be allowed where they reduce the pavement width to an extent that wheelchairs etc cannot pass and anyone is forced to step into the roadway.

It is also important they should all be on the same side of the footway, and this should probably be on the building side to avoid them being pushed into the road.

A universal charge would be unreasonable, as there are many situations where there is an area between the public path and the building which is owned by the premises, and a charge which was a money-making exercise would be wrong, but a moderate licence fee would be justifiable in the light of the constant claim by businesses that they would lose trade if their A-board was not allowed.

David J Brown, York Access Group, Acomb House, York

 

IN view of all the comments reference A-boards, why can they not be fastened to the wall above head height?

That way they would not block the footpaths and people would still be able to see them.

Or have the council got a bylaw that says not possible?

Neville Meek, York