As a long time member of Reading Access Forum (20 years) I feel I just have to support Gareth Epps (The Chronicle, July 7, "Impact on disabled not considered" ) regarding the new parking arrangements for blue badge holders in Reading town centre.

Gareth was chairman of the forum from June 2010 until March 2011.

The forum meets four times a year. The highways department did attend all of these meetings and some of the ones previous to Gareth being chairman.

At each of the meetings we were shown plans and maps of Friar Street and West Street around the station and how work was progressing.

I personally asked at all of these meetings where the disabled parking bays would be and was told we would have the same number of bays but they couldn't say where they would be until they had decided where bus stops were to be situated. I also asked about maps and press releases warning disabled drivers of changes. I was promised these would be implemented weeks before the changes. We did a town centre tour of the works in September to ensure that they were not impeding anyone with a disability.

We even popped into the information centre in Cross Street to see if any maps were available, we were told no. We were shown plans but disabled bays were not on any plans. At no time were we told that there was to be 11am to 4pm parking only in all the most crucial parking bays.

So why were there no press releases or maps in advance for blue badge holders?

There were press releases for pedestrians, bus users and cyclists.

I called in at the Cross Street information centre regularly, needing maps and information for my MS members. I contacted the highways department and tried the RBC website all to no avail. I finally got a map on the day that the changes came into force.

So far I have had 135 members contact me bitterly disappointed that they can no longer shop easily.

Many are now forced to shop in Basingstoke, Bracknell and Maidenhead. One lady said she felt Reading no longer wanted her. Many asked how were they to take their children into town after school or meet up with their partners for an after work meal?

Yes there is the same number of bays but most are on the outskirts of the main shopping area, making it impossible to wheel yourself say from King's Road uphill into Market Place or Broad Street.

The map I was given on the day of the changes has already lost two of its most precious bays in the centre of Friar Street. They have gone over to taxi bays. Why? Perhaps taxi drivers are more important than disabled drivers or they can shout louder.

I personally feel very let down. Over the years I have worked for a town that I love trying to make it accessible to everyone, not just the young and fit. What has the town centre manager got to say on this matter?

In the present economic climate I would have thought Reading can ill afford to lose regular shoppers to other towns.

Diane Goodlock

Access officer, Reading, Wokingham and districts MS Society