Airport made more accessible for visually impaired people

The recent changes are part of many small adjustments that Guernsey Ports is making to the landside and airside facilities at the airport.

The changes, which took the airport team a few weeks to complete, include putting contrasting edging tape around all terminal entrance/exit doors, along entrances to check-in queues, internal and external pillars, steps and staircases to help people identify the difference in depth from one step to another, and around landside white surfaces such as the at the central toilets.

Facades have also been painted around toilet doors in departures and arrivals, and the benches outside the airport.

Guernsey Airport customer services manager Mal Mechem said staff understood that travelling could be stressful for visually impaired people.

So the airport had worked with the Guernsey Blind Association to see what improvements could be made.

‘Contrasts can help, so with the whole front of the building being completely grey and glass, the yellow strips on the edging gives guidance where the door is,’ he said.

Working with the Guernsey Blind Association has helped Mr Mechem and his team recognise what is important to change, and help passengers with disabilities. ‘We look how we can improve the area for any passengers with disabilities. We also put tips on our website and worked quite closely with Autism Guernsey on that, and are in the process of doing hidden disability travel tips,’ said Mr Mechem.

Guernsey Blind Association vision support services officer Chantelle Tucker said that making the airport and travel as accessible as possible was important for locals and visitors.

‘It is so important for visitors and locals as travel is a vital part of our routes, living on an island,’ she said.

‘We welcomed Mal on our training session last year and since then he has shown great enthusiasm for inclusivity, which has been really nice to see. These changes have been absolutely fabulous and will have such a positive impact.’