ON Friday, Harlow MP Robert Halfon met with Guide Dogs Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex to walk around the town centre to understand the needs of visually impaired people.

Putting on a black mask, Robert walked around the town centre and said “it is one of the hardest things I’ve done. Not just to be blindfolded and walk about but to navigate the obstacles around the pavements just with a white cane.”

“The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association told me that the market square is particularly bad for the visually impaired. When planning these public areas, Harlow Council should consult with Guide Dogs. In London, for example, there are specific, coloured lines near some tube stations to help the visually impaired to guide themselves round.”

Robert will be contacting Harlow Council to arrange a meeting with Guide Dogs to make the town centre more accessible for visually impaired people.