Disabled upset by loss of Oxford parking spaces (From Oxford Mail)

Disabled upset by loss of Oxford parking spaces

7:23pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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DISABLED motorists say they are “utterly frustrated” at trying to find somewhere to park in Oxford city centre.

One driver said the lack of spaces had become so bad she had been forced to turn around and head home.

Fifteen of the 98 city centre disabled spaces have been “temporarily suspended” during roadworks, according to Oxfordshire County Council.

At one spot in St Michael’s Street, disabled bays have been converted into bicycle racks, despite the word “disabled” still being painted on the road – although a council spokesman said this had been done several years ago.

Disabled driver Margaret Pearce said: “The utter frustration of trying to find somewhere to park has really made me adamant that the whole issue needed to be discussed and looked at.”

Mrs Pearce, 60, from Botley, has been approached by numerous disabled people complaining about the situation – which she said was “massively worse” than in previous years.

She said: “I have been known to turn around and go home again and try another day.

“We have changed our way of life as a result. We used to come into the city often, now we only do it if we really have to because it is an absolute nightmare.”

Mrs Pearce has lung disease, meaning she can only walk for short distances and her husband Stuart is also disabled after being injured in a motorcycle accident 36 years ago.

She said the bicycle racks had added insult to injury.

Mrs Pearce said: “I just couldn’t believe it.

“It’s not our first choice to park there (St Michael’s Street) so when we had already tried New Road, and New Inn Hall Street, then went into St Michael’s Street and saw cycles it was just devastating.

“All these people that are well enough to ride bicycles have taken my independence away.”

Oxford and District Trades Union Council, for which Mrs Pearce is treasurer, has called on the council to explain how disabled people have been considered during the roadworks, by publishing its equality impact assessment, which has to be carried out by the council before major works to show the effects of that work on different sections of society.

Ian Hudspeth, county council cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “While there is inconvenience, we are certainly not deleting the number of disabled spaces across the centre.

“Perhaps this just highlights how much roadworks we are doing to improve the road and the facilities.”

He added: “It is very difficult to replace any situations that are temporary, but the Westgate Centre does have the shop mobility scooters to assist them getting around.”

In terms of the bicycle racks, he said: “We are trying to balance all the competing demands”.

A spokesman for the county council said the spaces would be restored when the roadworks finished, and that none had been permanently lost.

He added disabled badge holders could also park in one of about 350 pay-and-display spaces free of charge for an unlimited period, or in any residents’ parking zone.

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