Disabled bay can't be exclusive

A DISABLED Montrose resident has said she may decide to give up her car, because she cannot get a disabled parking bay exclusively for her own use.

Sharon MacFadyen, who lives in Ferry Street, told the Review that as she was disabled she had lobbied Angus Council for a disabled parking bay outside her house to park her small car in.

Her request was successful and a space was established. But Sharon said a sign appeared which stated the space was for disabled badge holders only, causing her to worry that if she went out in her car, then anyone would be able to park there.

After hearing from Sharon about her worries, convener of infrastructure services and Montrose Councillor David May, said he had a second disabled space installed on Ferry Street.

Mr May said: "She's now got two parking spaces, but national rules state they cannot be exclusive to her.

"There are changes going through the Scottish Parliament (to disabled parking rules] but as I understand this won't be for a while.

"In the interim, she's now got two spaces, so hopefully there will always be at least one available.

"I'm very conscious of the fact that people park in disabled spaces who haven't got a blue badge. I know at Tesco there are people who park in the disabled bays who have no reason to park there, and a lot of it is just laziness.

"I understand that people like Sharon need the spaces or they'd hardly get out."

But Sharon is still worried she will be unable to park in front of her house. She said she was the only disabled person in the block, and that she should get a space to herself.

Sharon said all she wanted was her house number written on the ground and the sign taken way. She says that if she doesn't get a bay to herself, she is seriously thinking of giving up her car which would hamper her independence.

However, it is not possible to award a disabled parking space exclusively to one person. Advice on disabled parking bays on the Angus Council website, www.angus.gov.uk, states: "If you have a blue disabled parking badge you can use any of the disabled parking bays marked. Even if a parking bay appears to have been created and provided for a specific individual it does not stop others from parking in it if it is vacant.

"Parking your car is becoming increasingly difficult and consequently you often cannot get parked right outside your property. There is no law to enforce that you should be allowed to park right outside your property so you therefore rely on the common courtesy of your neighbours."

Montrose Review, 19th March 2009