CONCERNS with the upgraded traffic light system outside Iceland have been highlighted, as a resident calls for the public to be made aware of the features of the digital upgrade, that include a tactile-rotating device instead of a bleeper.
At the Annual Council Meeting on Wednesday 17th May, Frome Town Council responded to concerns about the new crossing including the lack of bleeper, the length of time the lights stay green, and the placement of the red and green visual display.
Officers at Frome Town Council suggested compiling and disseminating information about the features of the upgrade, which took place earlier this year. They suggested sharing information to update the partially sighted and blind community about the tactile-rotating device, which has been approved by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
At the meeting the resident said, “This morning I attended the macular group in Frome and we have the managing director of the Macular Society. Visually impaired people have not been fully informed of the new process of these traffic lights and these are nationwide. I think we should all be properly informed as to the timing and the timing of the green man. I have stood and watched the green man when it goes out and the traffic is still stationary, so it obviously does give time for those who are disabled, or those with a mobility problem to get across, but people need to know about this new system of lights. A lot of the blind people do not know that there is a cone underneath that they need to hold, how is it that they don’t know?”
Frome Town Council’s economic development and regeneration manager, Peter Wheelhouse said, “One of the things we could do is put some information on our website and circulate the information through other means. One thing that is worth mentioning is that these rotating-tactile cones have been on the push button units for a long time now, they are not a specific feature of the new style of crossing. They have actually been in existence since the mid-90s but of course, not everyone is aware of them and we will have a look at how we can disseminate that information.”
The crossing was upgraded as part of a Somerset County Council’s £11.6million refurbishment of signals across Somerset, replacing equipment that has reached the end of its working life.
In response to previous questions put by Frome Times about the new crossing, a spokesperson from Somerset Highways said, “Our policy is to not install bleepers at new and refurbished traffic signal sites, irrespective of their location. Instead, we install rotating tactile devices for use by visually impaired pedestrians.
“The pedestrian crossing timings have been checked and we can confirm that they are within national standards. In addition, there are above-ground detectors which monitor pedestrian movements and will hold motorists on red until pedestrians have finished crossing the road.”
