Visually-impaired woman injured by A-board in Carmarthen

Traders are being reminded to remove any unauthorised A-board signs from the streets after a visually impaired woman was injured in Carmarthen town centre.
The woman was walking along Red Street when her white cane became lodged under the advertising sign and her body fell into it.
She injured her hand and knee and her cane was bent as a result.
Traders across the county are now being urged to help make the streets safer for pedestrians.
The council has a statutory duty to keep the highway clear of obstructions and this includes A-boards which can be hazardous to the public, particularly those who are disabled or visually impaired.
Not only could the boards themselves cause injury, but they could also put pedestrians at risk by forcing them off the pavement and onto the road.
Street works officers are now visiting traders across the county to remind them of the council policy in relation to A-boards.
Businesses found to be in breach of the policy will be sent a letter asking them to remove the signs. If no action is taken then officers will remove the boards themselves and traders will be charged a minimum amount of £30 plus £5 for each item to cover the costs of removal.
Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Whilst we appreciate that businesses need to do all they can to attract customers, we have a duty to keep the streets safe for pedestrians, and in particular visually impaired and disabled people.
“I hope traders will co-operate with us on this issue; it is also for their benefit as they could put themselves at risk of public liability claims which would not be covered by their insurance.
“We often receive complaints from disabled groups regarding A-boards; whilst I understand times are hard for local businesses, the safety and wellbeing of the public must come first.”