Local sight loss charity, Beacon Centre, is appealing for an end to a recent spate of vandalism to the bus stops outside of its centre in Sedgley. The glass panels in the two bus stops on Wolverhampton Road East have been smashed four times in the past four weeks and is now becoming a growing concern for the charity.
Beacon Centre supports people living with sight loss around the Black Country and Staffordshire. Many of the people visiting the centre, to use its services, are reliant on public buses. The recent spell of vandalism has resulted in shattered glass covering the pavement and road around the bus stops which poses a risk to blind and partially sighted visitors heading to the centre.
Arwyn Jones, CEO, at Beacon Centre said: “Any act of vandalism is frustrating, but deliberately smashing glass in bus stops where people with no or limited vision need to stand and walk is shocking. Smashed glass is a hazard to anyone, but it is even more dangerous for people who cannot see or have limited vision. The only way to avoid the sharp debris is to walk on the road which poses another risk.”
The charity is also highlighting the danger to guide dogs that accompany visitors to the centre who may also be at risk.
Arwyn added: “We are now appealing for an end to this vandalism and for the perpetrators to think about the vulnerable people they are putting at risk. We are grateful to the local authority for clearing away the shards of glass promptly and repairing the bus stops, but from the moment it is reported it can naturally take some time which is a concern for us and our visitors.”
A regular visitor to the Beacon Centre, who does not want to be named, added: “I depend on the buses to get to the Beacon Centre, due to my visual impairment travelling independently can be hard and makes me feel vulnerable. I rely on the familiarity of my surroundings, so when sharp broken glass is left on my route it makes things even more difficult.”
The charity is asking those concerned, including friends and family of visitors, to monitor the Beacon Centre Twitter and Facebook feeds for news of any further incidents.