Last updated at 15:50, Tuesday, 18 November 2008

RE: Evening Mail Thursday November 13. I was rather dismayed to learn from the Mail that Copeland council proposes to cut the number of parking spaces in Millom’s Market Square by two thirds from 18 to 6.

I’m not sure how a reduction in the amenity of an already well established and popular facility can be construed to be an improvement or lead to an increase in trading, particularly for disabled people, when it will lead to making an already miserable situation considerably worse.

As a wheelchair user, my concern is the two disabled parking spaces situated in Market Square. These are a premium facility as they ensure disabled people have the important rights of access to everyday services, including shops, cafes, the banks, post office and library required by the Disability Discrimination Act. At present, these are often oversubscribed by the disabled people who actually need them and are frequently abused by those who don’t. I’ve had occasion to challenge an officer in a police vehicle for occupying one of the bays!

The anti-social behaviour disabled people experience in the square is not from the racers, or kids who hang around there, but from some outwardly respectable able bodied adults who are “far too busy” to look for alternative parking, and abuse the disabled parking spaces instead and, worse still, verbally abuse anyone with the temerity to challenge the absence of a “blue badge” on their dashboard. This would worsen considerably should the proposed reduction of the presently available spaces come about, as it would increase an already considerable pressure on the two disabled spaces.

In your report, project manager Simon Walker says there will be a full consultation process. I very much hope this consultation will also include representatives of disability groups from the area.

GARY JACKSON

Glencoe Close, Haverigg, Millom

First published at 11:49, Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk