A LOCAL MP has voiced support for those living with impaired vision.

Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, met with guide dog owners at a Guide Dogs hosted parliamentary event where he heard of how they – and their guide dogs – have been illegally turned away due to having their guide dogs.

Mr Edwards said: “It was a pleasure to attend the Guide Dogs parliamentary event and show my support to the Open Doors campaign.

"The charity does a great job in helping the two million people living with sight loss live the life they choose to live.

“Promoting independence is an important part of this and raising awareness of the barriers faced by those dependent on guide dogs in their daily lives. I thank the charity for their work and hope that access will improve following this campaign.”

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Chris Theobald, senior policy, public affairs and campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “Guide dog owners have the right to live their lives the way they want and feel confident, independent and supported in the world.

"The law is clear, and yet guide dog owners continue to experience access refusals, which are almost always illegal.

“That’s why we are working to make sure everyone knows that guide dog owners have the right to access businesses and services with their guide dogs.

"We also want to see the law strengthened on access rights for assistance dogs, to prevent access refusals and to open doors for guide dogs.” 

The Open Doors campaign aims to raise awareness of the rights that owners of all assistance dogs have and the need for better enforcement and clearer laws.

It comes after research conducted by the charity in July found that 81 per cent of guide dog owners have been refused access to a restaurant, shop or taxi at some point because they had their dog with them.

Some 73 per cent of those said that they experienced the refusal at least once in the last 12 months.

The charity says that the refusals have a significant negative impact on the confidence, independent and wellbeing of the guide dog owners.