Agenda item

That this Area Committee supports the disability community in their continuous fight for access. We request the CEO of DCC to organise with Eir the removal of all newly installed Eir Digital Payphone Units in the city that do not comply with the IWA / Best Practice Access Guidelines.  I contacted the IWA National Access Programme Office post the installation of an Eir Digital Payphone Unit on Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview Dublin 3 and was told this was the first time the issue had been raised with them.  The IWA sent me the Best Practice Assess Guidelines below which stipulates a clear path width of 2000mm.  The Eir Digital Payphone Unit in Fairview as an example has a clear path width of 1780mm on one side and 1330mm on the other. i.e. the unit is in the middle of the footpath and clearly doesn't comply with the IWA  Access Guidelines and should be removed without further delay.    

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Irish Wheelchair Association /Best Practice  Access Guidelines

4.2.2.6 Street Furniture The careful positioning of street furniture provides good access and reduces potential hazards. Street furniture and signage should always be located either close to, or recessed into, the inner shoreline (that is, a wall, fence or building), or alternatively, on the kerb edge, leaving the middle of the pavement clear. A clear path width of preferably 2000mm should be maintained along the circulation route. Temporary street furniture on pavements, such as shop displays, sandwich boards and utility bins should be placed out of the way of the pedestrian route and maintained in that position. Any temporary street furniture that encroaches into the clear width of the pedestrian route should be reported to the local authority and removed. If free standing posts or columns are unavoidably located within access routes these should incorporate a band of contrasting colour at a height of 1500-1650mm. An additional band at a height of 850-1000mm is recommended. However, as a continuous clear path width of 2000mm is required, this situation ought not to occur. Cycle parking must be kept clear of pedestrian routes.

 

4.2.2.7 Hazard Protection The swing of doors and windows, and the location of vending machines, public telephones, etc, should not extend into any access route. 

Minutes:

That this Area Committee supports the disability community in their continuous fight for access. We request the CEO of DCC to organise with Eir the removal of all newly installed Eir Digital Payphone Units in the city that do not comply with the IWA / Best Practice Access Guidelines.  I contacted the IWA National Access Programme Office post the installation of an Eir Digital Payphone Unit on Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview Dublin 3 and was told this was the first time the issue had been raised with them.  The IWA sent me the Best Practice Assess Guidelines below which stipulates a clear path width of 2000mm.  The Eir Digital Payphone Unit in Fairview as an example has a clear path width of 1780mm on one side and 1330mm on the other. i.e. the unit is in the middle of the footpath and clearly doesn't comply with the IWA  Access Guidelines and should be removed without further delay.     

.  

Irish Wheelchair Association /Best Practice  Access Guidelines

4.2.2.6 Street Furniture The careful positioning of street furniture provides good access and reduces potential hazards. Street furniture and signage should always be located either close to, or recessed into, the inner shoreline (that is, a wall, fence or building), or alternatively, on the kerb edge, leaving the middle of the pavement clear. A clear path width of preferably 2000mm should be maintained along the circulation route. Temporary street furniture on pavements, such as shop displays, sandwich boards and utility bins should be placed out of the way of the pedestrian route and maintained in that position. Any temporary street furniture that encroaches into the clear width of the pedestrian route should be reported to the local authority and removed. If free standing posts or columns are unavoidably located within access routes these should incorporate a band of contrasting colour at a height of 1500-1650mm. An additional band at a height of 850-1000mm is recommended. However, as a continuous clear path width of 2000mm is required, this situation ought not to occur. Cycle parking must be kept clear of pedestrian routes. 

 

4.2.2.7 Hazard Protection The swing of doors and windows, and the location of vending machines, public telephones, etc, should not extend into any access route.  

 

 

Reply

 

EIR require a T2 (utility road opening licence to install the unit) to open the ground to install the unit.  EIR have a T2 (ref 2021 DC 0298) for this installation, therefore from RCU & RMS point of view, EIR are compliant.

 

Contact:           Deri Flood, Senior Executive Engineer, Infrastructure Management Unit.

Tel:                  086 388 3986

Email.              deri.flood@dublincity.ie

 

 

The North Central Area Office will be in touch with the relevant Dept /Section and update the Councillor accordingly and /or as soon as possible.

 

Contact:            Derek Farrell, Acting Local Area Manager Artane-Whitehall LEA

Phone:             222 8546

Email:              derek.farrell@dublincity.ie

 

 

 

Karl Mitchell

Acting Executive Manager /Director of Services         

North City

 

 

Order:  Not agreed.  Cllr. O’Muirí seconded.  The Manager stated that the Area Office will follow up on above mentioned location.  General consensus is that the NCAC’s disapproval should be brought to the relevant SPC.  Is there a monetary gain for DCC.  Where have they been erected in the NC area.