Driven out of town!

Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 24 Jun 2011 18:30 18 Comments

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Parking nightmare: Driver Laura Jones is calling for more disabled parking bays and changes to the access restrictions being trialled in Reading town centre.

NEGOTIATING her way around Reading town centre's newly designed road and bus lane network Laura Jones' sparkling smile quickly turns to a deep frown.

The 29-year-old wheelchair user and motorist took me on a tour of disabled bays shortly after 10.15am on Tuesday last week.

Laura is paralysed from the chest down following a spinal cord haemorrhage after a long haul flight when she was just 16.

Fiercely independent, she often shops alone and needs to park her Mazda3 hatchback close enough to Broad Street and the Oracle to reach her favourite shops and make return trips to the car if she accumulates too many bags.

But since traffic changes came into effect in April in readiness for the £850m Reading Station upgrade, Laura feels rules restricting private motorists entering Friar Street, West Street, and St Mary's Butts between 7-11am and 4-7pm unfairly penalise disabled drivers because that is where many blue badge parking bays are. She tries to avoid the town centre's multi storey car parks because although they have bays for disabled drivers there is no concessions on the steep parking fees..

The professional dancer from Woodley, who works for disabled and able bodied performing arts company StopGAP, says: "It's ridiculous - I feel like we are being squeezed out of Reading - we are being marginalised. Attitudes to disability are changing so access should be improving. I've gone to places and seen how they are working to improve things but in my home town it feels as if they don't want me to shop here any more."

10.22am: Starting from King's Road we headed to Abbey Square where one of two disabled spaces is free. As we approached, another car signalled to pull in. Turning left back onto King's Road, two out of nine spaces were vacant. But Laura complained that she has problems here in her wheelchair because of the gradient towards King Street, and the perils of crossing the road at Jacksons Corner where the traffic lights have been removed. She said: "It's dangerous for those of us who take longer to cross the road - especially when buses pull around the corner."

10.33am: In The Forbury, opposite Reading Crown Court, two cars pipped us for the last of the seven bays. As we u-turned, another frustrated driver made a similar manoeuvre.

Peter Bridges from Calcot and his mother Pat, who has a blue disabled badge, grabbed one of those last places. He said: "We've been lucky to get one today but there are just not enough spaces."

10.44am: There are three bays in Blagrave Street - a prime spot - but all were full. There used to be three disabled spaces at the eastern end of Friar Street but they have been turned into a taxi rank.

10.56am: There was one unoccupied bay out of seven in Oxford Road opposite Cheapside, but two spaces in Castle Street were taken and Laura told me three spaces - two of which were free - in Howard Street are too far from the town centre for her. One of three spaces in St Mary's Butts just before the restricted zone was free but she doubted whether the gap was long enough to leave sufficient space to unload her wheelchair.

11.10am: As it was now past 11am we drove into the restricted section of St Mary's Butts but already seven out of eight spaces were filled outside De Ja Vu bar, plus another three spaces set on Broad Street's pedestrianised zone outside KFC.

11.15am: In West Street five of 10 spaces were occupied, but as we approached Primark a large minibus pulled in - taking up two of them. In Friar Street there were two spaces free out of five.

11.28am: We arrived back in King's Road after 5.3 miles. Before I helped Laura to cross the road in her wheelchair, she said: "There are a couple of times when I have driven round for 30 minutes and I have given up and gone home. You have to keep on going round and it takes out a big chunk of your day. A lot of people with disabilities are on benefits and have to be careful with their money, and it is frustrating."

John Lyttle, 64, from Fernbrook Road, Caversham, who walks on crutches after a 1975 car accident is another frustrated disabled shopper. He said: "There are more and more people needing to use wheelchairs, yet they are pushing us further out of town - it's discrimination."

COUNCIL planning leader Tony Page claimed feedback on town centre changes was "overwhelmingly positive" but he is willing to listen, and said: "We have worked hard to ensure the number of bays have stayed the same, given the enormous pressures to balance the interests of disabled badge holders with bus passengers, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians. Inevitably there are some teething problems but we will look at trying to accommodate people's concerns."

Disabled motorists can legally park on single and double yellow lines if they show their blue badge and parking clock, provided they are not obstructing the carriageway, junctions or loading bays.

The council has also opened up bus lanes for taxis with wheelchair accessible facilities and the Oracle runs a free mobility scheme.

For a full list of disabled bay locations and their time limitations see www.reading.gov.uk/station.

Residents have until October 30 to submit their views on the town centre changes.

Are you a disabled driver who has struggled to negotiate Reading town centre since the changes? Email mkusiobodum@berksmedia.co.uk

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 24 Jun 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

ME again
Unregistered User
Jun 24, 20:34
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If you think it's hard as a disabled motorist, try getting a free space without a blue badge!

I'm not sure how disabled motorists are being discriminated against - it's clearly the able bodied motorists who have a harder time without paying.

Recommend? Yes 21 No 18
EDDY
Unregistered User
Jun 24, 20:56
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to many able bodyed people have blue nadges seen the cars they drive 4x4 and the people who drive them and there familys

Recommend? Yes 23 No 7
Molly
Unregistered User
Jun 24, 22:09
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Not only disabled parking spaces not available, too many eating establishments don't cater for disabled people's toilet facilities! On being questioned they plead that the building is too old, etc.etc. but somehow they've managed to expand the supposedly listed building to seat more people!

Recommend? Yes 8 No 24
ElleWheels
Unregistered User
Jun 24, 22:42
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Unfortunately, it often takes disabled people longer to get around the shops, negotiating curbs and slopes, heavy doors, and making trips back and forth to the car, as not able to carry all the shopping in one go, obstacles that other shoppers take for granted. Alternatives to parking in town, like using public transport, are not always an option due to lack of access. If we are forced to pay to park, it adds up to us forking out more for our parking on a trip into town than non-disabled shoppers.

And yes, Eddy, Blue badge fraud is still a real problem that needs tackling, able bodied drivers taking up our already restricted parking spaces!

Recommend? Yes 8 No 3
S C A R
Unregistered User
Jun 25, 18:13
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It is nice to see so many 'kind' hearted armchair bloggers giving the Meldrew impressions about someone who will never dance, stand or have the misfortune to bust-a-move in Reading's crummy eighties themed nightclub. I envy her in that respect. But let us not forget, we now all have (non-wheelchair) access to the net and must complain as we are a nation of pathetic complainers after all are we not? We must rise against the disabled, the weak, the inferior when they are getting a deal surely better than ourselves? Or perhaps that they have an online voice that is far more valid than our petty whinge or gripe?

Recommend? Yes 17 No 9
Joel M
Unregistered User
Jun 25, 22:30
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The new system is ridiculous. My mother recently got a fixed penalty notice for straying in to the 'forbidden zone' before 11am in search of a disabled bay. Inverting the access times seems to have caught-out lots of people do a search online and you will see.

What has added insult to injury for many is that they have taken 3weeks+ to issue the notices meaning that some people have not noticed the change and since this is being done on the sly via CCTV are getting multiple fines.

Someone needs to give this council a reality check as they seem to be driving both consumers and businesses away from the town city with their ludicrous plans.

Recommend? Yes 16 No 6
******
Jun 26, 15:50
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Sammy
Unregistered User
Jun 29, 06:44
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Whilst i have a lot of sympathy for Laura's situation the real problem is the way that disabled badges are issued. Clearly Laura has serious mobility issues, the vast majority of those using blue badges in Reading town centre it is about free parking and the Council is right to limit access. If car park fees are an issue then we should lobby for a change to these. But the main problem is the issue of blue badges and this needs reform.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 9
Huffmum
Unregistered User
Jun 29, 07:51
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Fantastic article.

Reading Borough council have effectively banned me from large parts of Reading between the hours of 4pm and 7pm not because I have an ASBO but because I am disabled

Recommend? Yes 11 No 2
confused
Unregistered User
Jun 29, 09:46
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I am a wheelchair user and I have to access the town centre in order to get into work. I received a penalty charge for using a a restricted road out of hours and have paid it. On my next journey into work I stopped and spoke to a traffic warden to clarify where I could and could not drive as a wheelchair user. I was told that the restrictions did not apply to wheelchair users and that I should contest my fine. I told him that I had already done this and was unsuccessful as the charge was legal. If the traffic wardens don't know, nor the people who work at the 'bus lane' department, which roads can be used at what time, what chance have any of us got?

Recommend? Yes 7 No 1
Mary Contrary
Unregistered User
Jun 30, 18:04
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When you're as rich as me you don't need a disabled bay. I've got a chauffeur driven Maybach and two muscular hunks to carry me everywhere I need to go!

Recommend? Yes 31 No 5
The Peanut Ape
Unregistered User
Jun 30, 19:14
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They'd have never pulled this stunt on Davros. He'd have given them what for...

Recommend? Yes 13 No 0
******
Jul 2, 14:21
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Gareth Epps
Unregistered User
Jul 4, 11:06
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Thankfully, this Government is acting on blue badge abuse.

I Chaired Reading Borough Council's Access Forum last year and at no point was the Forum or I made aware of the impact these changes would have.

I've spoken out against RBC's transport department in the past. On this issue it seems they think they are aware of the law. In my view they have broken it. I hope that those who have been affected by this take them to court - because they should win. I will happily help them do that, in an effort to change the prehistoric attitudes held by some people in the Civic.

Recommend? Yes 10 No 0
Huffmum
Unregistered User
Jul 6, 07:20
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Perhaps the gentleman who chaired the forum would like to note that one reason he had no idea of the scale of the impact was because the people who like me use the bays on an almost daily basis had no idea what was going on! \

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There was nothing in the glossy brochures saying waiting restrictions would stop us disabled drivers parking the double yellow lines or that we would not be able to access what little parking was left for 7 hours a day. No notices near the parking bays no mail shots by local councils to blue badge holders (Maidenhead and Wokingham residents use Reading as their main town and should have been informed too!) So please, tell me, just how should I object to plans I knew nothing about! Further more, the Access Forum meeting is an afternoon off work for of us - not exactly making it easy for us to complain were they.

Recommend? Yes 9 No 0
Unseen disability
Unregistered User
Jul 6, 18:37
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I also feel like I have been 'banned' from shopping in town. Thw time that most people finish work is after 4pm. this means that disabled people no longer feel welcome in reading town centre.

And for those of you who think that someone not in a wheelchair should not have a bluebadge.....I do not use a wheel chair. I carry fold up walking aids in my bag for when I need them. If I didnt have my badge, I would not be able to go shopping in town at all because of the distance from car to shop making me too tired. I may not always look disabled, but i assure you that I am. So please think twice before condeming people before you know their situation.

Reading Borough Council - Please change the signs to include blue badge users, as they used to.

Recommend? Yes 8 No 0
Gareth Epps
Unregistered User
Jul 7, 12:20
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Huffmum - yes.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 1
dkintheuk
Unregistered User
Sep 2, 11:03
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Is everyone aware that the reading.gov.uk website is canvassing peoples opinions on the council. Perhaps a concerted effort to all complain about the apparent attempt to ban people from driving within a million miles of Reading Town Centre is in order.

I play in serveral local bands and getting into town for a gig and parking at most venues is basically impossible in a good time so we always end up rushing late and upsetting the venue owners and promoters. Or you get fined. I got caught out by the inverted times trick that the council have pulled and am £60 poorer as a result. Considering I play most gigs in town for free to help boost music in the town I am appalled that the council believe that this is a good way to manage traffic.

I would love to see the consultation document that proposed the changes and what basis it gave for crippling town in such a way.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 0
Heidi
Unregistered User
Sep 17, 17:51
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I am so glad I have come across these comments. I also recieved a fine whilst trying to park in a Disabled Bay in the town centre whilst taking my disabled friend shopping. I was horrified and duly paid the fine in fear of it doubling whilst I contested it. Reading BL refused my request to return the money. We have parked in the street opposite the large Primark store for the six years. We come regularly from Oxford but now feel we are not wanted. Had we been serial fine offenders then that would be different, this was a first. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER READING, you will lose customers who will not want to return.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 0
Blue Badger
Unregistered User
Dec 20, 17:56
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Having fallen foul of the Bus lane fiasco I contested the Penalty notice and final I understand ( But I don't yet have it in writing ) it has been cancelled.

Is this not just another indication of the council asking the wrong questions to the wrong people, will they never learn. They might just as well have asked a vegan how they preferred their meat cooked.

If you have been affected there are many ways of showing that you are not happy, however to ask disabled people to stand or march in protest would also be problematic for most of those affected. So I suggest that for those who have an Internet facility contact all those individuals and and affected organisations and simply state your dissatisfaction and place a request under the Freedom of Information Act for a complete disclosure of all the information, committees, discussions and decisions relating to the Bus Lane restrictions. Also ask why a commercial operation Reading Buses ( Major shareholder RBC) is given rights over and above those who live here, what payment is made by Reading Buses for these benefits. Who authorised these benefits and have any members of RBC,(elected or employed) who could influence such commercial advantages any declared or undeclared interests in Reading Buses.

Add any other questions which could vary and increase the task you could believe there would be a record of in the RBC files.

This action would, if RBC follows the rules put a spanner in the works more effectively than standing outside of their offices and hopefully irritate them as much as they have worried and confused us.

GO TO IT BLUE BADGERS

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

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