Wrexham’s plan to charge disabled people for parking is not only “absurd” but vindictive
Campaigner Nathan Lee Davies, who raised a 1,300-signature petition against the imposition of parking charges on disabled people in Wrexham.
Independent-run Wrexham Borough Council has declared war on disabled people, it seems.
The council wants to take away £25,000 a year from the money disabled people in the borough need to survive – in parking charges.
Not only that, but the council is prepared to pay twice that amount to install the changes needed to impose those charges – so it would not even start to make any money for two years.
I wonder how badly the change would affect disabled people during that time? They don’t have much money to support them and even the smallest change can be disastrous. Wrexham’s MP is Labour’s Ian Lucas. Hopefully he will monitor the situation.
It seems unlikely that the so-called Independents (they’re usually closet Tories) on the council have even bothered to think about that.
A campaigner who started a petition against plans to introduce charges for disabled parking [in Wrexham] has expressed disappointment the matter will not be reconsidered.
Scrutiny committee members voted seven to five against sending proposals to bring charges for disabled parking in line with other charges at council-run car parks across the county.
The matter cannot be called in again and a statutory consultation will now be launched ahead of the implementation of the charges.
Executive board members hope to raise about £25,000 a year through disabled parking charges, though there will be an estimated cost of about £50,000 to make the changes necessary to make it viable.
The estimated £50,000 cost also covers any changes needed to introduce fees for parking at country parks across the borough.
Campaigner Nathan Lee Davies collected more than 1,300 signatures on his petition against the proposal, which he described as “absurd”.
Mr Davies said: “I am severely disappointed, but not surprised, by Wrexham Council’s latest decision.”
Source: Campaigner hits out at ‘absurd’ plan disabled parking charges in Wrexham
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i am not surprised anyone would disagree with parking charges for disabled drivers parking in carparks where all others have to pay. it is right and proper that any payments for parking should be community wide. same as it should be for entering a cafe and having a meal or just popping to the pub for a drink.
it would also help if all parking spaces were as wide as the disabled spaces with hatching marking for space between cars. that way anyone could park almost anywhere. the main issue is making the ordinary parking spaces white not yellow for disabled parking. that way if a disabled driver is unable to be close to the shop or wherever they are going they have the choice to park elsewhere and not have difficulties getting in and out as is the case now.
just my own personal point of view fro a driver who has also got to use a wheelchair when out and about, along with a helper to do so.
I think the point is that people with disabilities already have extra living costs associated with their conditions, and less money to spend elsewhere. Imposing charges on parking – and failing to provide the extra-wide disability spaces – would put possibly too much extra pressure on already-stretched budgets and may end up, in effect, imprisoning people with disabilities in their homes.
Or in other words, access to places and services should not be rationed by ability to pay for it.
A pretty basic concept.
Often these charges affect disabled people proportionately more than abled bodied. A 30 minute shopping trip for an abled bodied person could take a disabled person a lot longer, There is also the issue that the walk to the pay point and back with a ticket can be exhausting and limits the time and distance a person can manage shopping. In Suffolk Coastal area charges were introduced in all their car parks a few years ago. They had a consultation and decided that they would allow blue badge holder’s twice the time on the ticket. This helps some people, but if you are someone that can only manage a short time walking getting two hours parking for the price of one is no consolation. There has also been an increase in on street parking by blue badge holders.
In Hull we have Blue badges which provides the disabled with free parking even if the driver isn’t disabled, as long as the holder is with the driver. It can be anywhere but in London.
Good evening all I’m wondering if someone more Clued up than I am Regarding, wca, tribunals, etc Could help. My Neighbor, was asked to Attend, a F2F WCA, Despite being in Support group, Over 3 plus years. She was asked to attend via Letter, But was not sent nor asked to complete a new ESA40 form. I attended the F2F with her, and it was allover in the room whiten 7/8 minutes ? She was About to show her, Skin (chronic psoriasis) Being one of many problems IE mental health , etc. but the lady said no need to see it. And said it’s completed now and ”the DWP will be in touch” is this Odd ? She was recently sent a letter stated her money increasing of oct 2018 ?? All a bit strange. This F2F took place 9/2/18. Thanks in advance.
Mrs Mike’s WCA lasted nearly an hour, back in 2012.
I’m going through exactly the same thing now! I had the letter detailing this year’s money about a month before I got the ESA claim form, exactly as I had to fill in three years ago. I’m just wondering if they stop your payments while they make their minds up?
I live in Minehead, our local council charges blue badge holders to park in council car parks, but gives them an extra hour, my neighbour has a blue badge and parks in the roads on single yellow lines which is allowed with a blue badge,
Taking Thurrock as our example, ‘Independendent’ means UKIP = tory.
Stoke-on-Trent already charges the disabled on car parks, so people who can’t afford car parks (as I myself who hasn’t had a pay rise in 10 years and can’t afford a home of my own) park on the street on double yellow lines even when it would be just as convenient to park on a car park. I don’t have a wheelchair but have walking problems, so parking on a car park was a painful inconvenience for me which I did so as not to crowd the streets, but I have no choice now.
They are going to scrape the barrel in any and every way they can
If the nasty Tories funded local authorities properly such measures would not be necessary.