§ 60. Mr. Costainasked the Minister of Transport whether she will in future, when granting permission to local authorities for the making of new pedestrian crossings, specify that kerbs should be ramped for the benefit of prams, wheelchairs and the ambulant disabled; and 83W what is the policy of her Department towards the ramping of kerbs at pedestrian crossing points in new highway developments of all other kinds.
§ Mrs. CastleThe design and construction of footways is a matter for local authorities. But we give them guidance and for the past 20 years have recommended that where possible kerbs should be ramped down at crossing places much used by prams, wheelchairs and the disabled. A raised kerb does, however, fulfil a number of functions, and it is right that local authorities, with their local knowledge, should continue to decide whether kerbs should be ramped or not.