'Bristol needs more parking for disabled'
Disabled people say they are having trouble visiting Bristol's theatres and cinemas because there are too few parking bays for them.
Cotham resident Jill Ford and her friend Catherine Mercer, from Clifton, raised the issue with city councillor Neil Harrison.
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'Bristol needs more parking for disabled'
Ms Ford said: "I like to visit the Watershed cinema with my friend who has breathing problems and can't walk very far.
"There are two dedicated bays at the back of the Watershed, but these are often full as they serve the whole of the waterfront area.
"It makes it really difficult to manage trips out."
Ms Mercer said: "Available parking space would make a real difference to disabled drivers whose lives are often severely restricted."
Councillor Harrison, 35, who lives in Burlington Road, Cotham, said: "I was alerted to some of the problems by local residents. For example, the disabled parking bays by the Colston Hall have been temporarily taken away for the building works.
"The nearest parking is now in the Trenchard Street car park. This is quite a walk away for a person with mobility issues.
"To make it worse, you can't pre-pay for parking at weekends, leaving disabled people having to queue for a long time.
"I have contacted the managers of both the Colston Hall and the Watershed.
"While they are sympathetic to the problem, they aren't in a position to find solutions. I have also spoken to the parking managers in the council, but they tell me that there is nothing they can do either.
"We can't have a large section of our society being excluded from accessing the cultural highlights of the city.
"There may well be problems with other venues too. The council needs to do a full audit and find immediate solutions for Colston Hall and the Watershed."
Rae Gingell, co-chair of the council's Disability Equality Forum, said: "There is insufficient provision to Blue Badge holders wanting to use roadside parking spaces in the centre.
"There has been an increase in the number of disabled people requiring these spaces yet the number of available spaces is decreasing.
"This effectively limits disabled people's access to goods, services and leisure venues albeit by indirect discrimination. We would like the new administration to address this situation as soon as possible."
31 Comments
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by Karen, Bristol
Friday, April 03 2009, 9:31PM
“Mark, I was reacting to comments made by Torchy, Ricardo & yourself , ¿How many people that have these blue badges actually NEED them,, I guess not many¿ ;¿ Too many people have disabled badges who don't need them¿; ¿there are a lot of people who have them or use them that really shouldn¿t. I agree to some extent but you cannot tell if someone really needs that space just watching them get out of their car. Chris commented ¿How close to Colston Hall do you want.....Trenchard Street car park is about 100 meters away!! ¿ believe me, 100 metres is a long way when your tablets are not working. And as far as ¿having the disabled person dropped off, then park in a normal space. When leaving, drive car out of space then the disabled person can get in.¿, or using ¿dial a ride. I am only 46 and wish to keep my independence as long as I can. Non-disabled drivers feel there are too many disabled spaces but believe me it is very difficult to find a disabled bay anywhere except the Mall at Cribbs Causeway.”
by Mark, Bristol
Friday, April 03 2009, 10:06AM
“Karen, I doubt anyone has a problem with someone genuinely using a disabled space, be it for a 'part time / occasional' disability or for a full time one.
In fact, I don't see one person saying disabled people shouldn't use a space, or, anyone saying that there shouldn't be any disabled spaces!
So, nice comment, but slightly out of place / over the top.”
by Donna, Bristol
Friday, April 03 2009, 6:02AM
“Well said Karen - you put all the spiteful malcontents who have posted here to shame!”
by beverlay jane williams, Clifton View
Friday, April 03 2009, 6:00AM
“we Could use hackney cabs , to travel about bristol the only trouble with that ideal
most hackney taxi dont want to take disabled customers,don`t use clamps or restraints to make use sure wheelchair user we are safe when traveling in a cab ( just hold on and pray )”
by Karen, Bristol
Thursday, April 02 2009, 10:11PM
“Until the disabled badge is updated with your photograph shown on the front and not the back, disabled parking spaces will be abused. I am only 46 and have Parkinson's Disease, the symptoms of which fluctuate throughout the day. I can go from being virtually unable to walk (my feet feel like ton weights and added to that the feeling that i am walking through treacle, every step i make has to be thought about in minute detail in order to move forwards). The fear of falling becomes intense as my balance fails and with my collapsible walking stick i manage to remain standing. Then come the spasms in my legs and feet which are so painful i am barely able to stand (infact some days i sit on the floor and then people think i am drunk). Then my tablets (which i take every three hours) kick in and i begin to move. My muscle spasms relax and the 'treacle melts'. I come to life and shopping becomes bearable again. The walking stick is packed away and i am 'NORMAL'. Yes i admit that i look like i do not need that disabled bay but how many of you sit and watch the changes in me when i arrive or depart from the space i am so grateful to have found. So next time you look at someone with a valid Blue Badge and think, 'well they don't look disabled' consider how you would feel if you were on your own in the middle of town walking perfectly normally and enjoying a lovely shopping day out when in a short period of time your medication wears off and you are unable to move and feel very vunerable. Those of us who have a disability would much rather be walking the long distance back to our cars loaded up with shopping than having the 'advantage' of a close parking space. I would willing give you my space if in return you would take my Parkinson's Disease.”