BLIND campaigners called for Boris Johnson to act over Kensington and Chelsea Council's multi-million pound plans to transform Exhibition Road.
About 100 protesters lined the walls of City Hall, in central London, last week, to voice safety concerns about plans to create a 'shared space' between cars and pedestrians in the tourist street - home of the Natural History, Victoria and Albert, and Science museums.
Waving banners in front of Tower Bridge, leading interest groups such as Guide Dogs and the National Federation of the Blind said the scheme was dangerous.
They are worried that people with sight problems will not cross the road - which is to be used by walkers and cars - safely.
Director of external affairs for Guide Dogs, Tom Pey, said: "As my
grandmother said, 'There are none so blind as people who can't see'.
"Kensington and Chelsea has a case of serious myopia."
Annie Babb, 61, who has been blind since birth, has campaigned for safer streets for 30 years.
She said: "This is one of the worst things I have heard over the years."
Mayor Johnson did not come out to meet the crowd, but spoke out after been grilled about the issue by London Assembly members later that morning.
He said that shared space was 'a good idea' but added: "It is worth me stressing that of course, in any scheme that is presented, we will
make sure that there is a differentiation in street surface to make them usable to all.
"It is vital we get that right." Speaking outside City Hall, Councillor Andrew Lamont, from Kensington and Chelsea Council, defended the controversial plans, saying: "I think the scheme is good enough."
But he added the council would listen to the views of protesters, who have vowed to continue their fight until their fears are allayed.
Deputy London Mayor Richard Barnes added, on his way in to work: "It's my job to make sure people give all the issues consideration."
