Glasgow blind man calls for more accessible paving

Last April, Michael Turnow who is blind fell onto the train track at Bellgrove Station.

Published 29th Sep 2022

A blind man from Glasgow is recalling the terrifying moment he fell off the platform edge at Bellgrove Station and onto the tracks.

Michael Turnow had to be rescued by other passengers just minutes before a train arrived last April.

"I felt anxious about going back"

He told Clyde 1: "I lost a lot of confidence after the incident and I had to use a white stick in one hand and had my guide dog in the other.

"It is not something I wanted to do, but I had no other choice.

"I felt anxious about going back to use the station and that is a bit of a problem when going around on the train is my method of transport."

After a campaign by national sight loss charity RNIB, Network Rail has now fitted tactile paving.

Michael would like to see tactile paving installed in all train stations across Scotland as well as more public places where there are hazards.

It consists of concrete strips indented with furrows or small bumps that are felt when someone stands on them.

He added: "There are lots of pedestrian crossings which do not have this type of paving.

"We have lots of cycle lanes nowadays and there really needs to be something tactile there to indicate when you're on the pavement or not."