After 19 years of walking alongside one of the busiest main roads in Blackpool and navigating various hazards Carole had an accident – on the pavement – earlier this summer and is only just getting back on her feet.

While her faith in her cherished guide dog Ike is unswerving her confidence has been badly shaken and she says there's more others could do to help her – and other blind and visually impaired people – to feel safely part of mainstream society.

Carole is the first visually impaired chairman Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Society has had since 1910 and has long been a stalwart campaigner for a better deal for blind and visually impaired people locally.

A national campaign was launched this summer to clear Britain's street of clutter and other hazards. And while Carole applauds that she also offers a valuable insight into how the closures of valuable local amenities such as post offices and libraries and community centres can really throw customers off course too.

Thoughtless placing of potted plants and pavement "furniture", as well as kids and teenagers riding bikes on pavements, motorists parking on, and even driving over, pavements, trees left overhanging, bushes blocking the path, road and pavement works leaving potholes, and wheely bins straddling the right of way can all prove potentially hazardous.

As Carole has learned the hard way.

She explains: "When my eyesight deteriorated in 1988 I was lucky to train with a guide dog. His name was Fenton and in the six years we were together he guided me safely around South Shore, Blackpool town centre and St Annes.

"Fenton gave me confidence to get out and about independently, get fresh air and help keep fit. About the same time I became involved with Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Society for the Blind and at least three times a week Fenton and I would walk from the Halfway House area, along Squires Gate Lane to reach the society.

"I always enjoyed this walk and found the pavements wide and uncluttered. Towards the end of the working life of my second guide dog, Petra, which was four years ago, my local Post Office and Highfield Library closed.

"Ever since then walking my routes has become quite stressful. When I started walking with my present dog Ike, the wheely bin culture arrived on some of my routes and I had to avoid collection days as once the bins were emptied, they blocked the pavements.

"Also people seemed to forget or not notice that their bushes and trees were overhanging the pavements and I was regularly scratched and cut by overhanging branches.

"I have regular bruises on my forearm when cars park opposite to the many electric boxes which have appeared on the pavements.

"Also, cars actually park fully on the pavement, making it impossible to carry on as they only leave a narrow gap. Wing mirrors don't seem to have much give in them.