VISUALLY impaired people could be in danger walking around the new £2m Accrington town square, it has been claimed.

David Anderson, of the Accrington and District Blind Society, says the group has written to Hyndburn Council about the new area outside the town hall and market in Blackburn Road.

They say the development puts 'people with visual impairment at risk' as vehicles are being driven through the pedestrianised area to access the police station and loading bays.

Mr Anderson says 2,000 people are registered as visually impaired in Hyndburn and the society is calling on council chiefs to 'reduce the risks to vulnerable people in the town'.

He said: "The society recognises this is an important part of the town centre regeneration.

"But there are concerns we have about it.

"The area in front of the town hall is new to pedestrians with no kerbs or crossings and it is flat.

"That makes it difficult for the visually impaired people to walk on.

"In reality, the amount of traffic using the area is low and it is only the police and market traders that are going there.

"But the risk or consequences of a visually impaired person getting injured could be high.

"The market traders use Blackburn Road so they can load from their stalls.

"It would be good if there was signposting for drivers or some differentiation with tactile paving solutions.

"The ones with the bubbles or ripples on it so visually impaired people know where it is the road.

"The council could create a different road surface or kerbs but it could be expensive.

"We just want a sensible solution that would be the way forward."

Mr Anderson added they are concerned about the street furniture.

He said: "There are some attractive benches and slabs for the Accrington Pals and some of our visually impaired members are veterans, but the plaques are in block capitals which they struggle to read and it looks like a square box of blackness.

"The council have also put in some black hoops as bicycle stands which make it difficult for the visually impaired to navigate around."

Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: "Shared spaces across the county have to deliver safety aspects for the visually impaired.

"The council has put in some brass studs and there will be some planters to delineate the roads."