Wheelchair access campaigner raises concerns over new disabled parking spaces.

Wheelchair access campaigner raises concerns over new disabled parking spaces.
Article in Connaught Telegraph 26th October 2005
Concerns have been raised over the layout, position, surface condition, access and signage in relation to several of the new disabled car parking spaces in Castlebar. Mr Tom Chambers, an access campaigner for people with disabilities, outlined his reservations in a letter to elected members of the local Town Council.
He said “parking bays should be firm, level and even”. An uneven surface or an inclined bay makes transfer from vehicle to wheelchair difficult. Parking bays designed for people with disabilities should be clearly marked on the roadway surface and be accompanied by the appropriate sign standing in front of the bay. Spaces arranged parallel to the kerb need to take account of the transfer side. A disabled driver or passenger getting out on the kerb side may transfer directly onto the wheelchair located on the footpath.
‘This can be very difficult if the kerb is not flush with the footpath as it necessitates lifting the wheelchair out of the car up onto the pavement and then lifting oneself onto the chair from the car seat. This problem does not present itself if parking perpendicular to the kerb as transfer will always be onto road level which may be more convenient.
‘Where parallel parking is the only option, some people prefer to transfer on the road side to avoid the kerb, despite the obvious hazards. A clear space must be available at the ends of the car to allow the disabled person to use their boot and gain access to the footpath. In some situations where pavement width is restricted, it may be appropriate tramp the pavement down to road level for the full length of the parking spaces in question.
Mr. Chambers said the disabled space at Linenhall Street was positioned in front of an access to private property. There is one on Main Street beside the Bungalow Bar. It is blocking access to private property. There is no provision allowed to use the boot of ones car. Alighting from a vehicle can be via side door or an end door. This generally involves using a portable ramp extending a maximum of 2,000mm from the vehicle. There are two bays in the middle of Main Street. The one located on the right hand side is located on a water valve with no room to gain access to the boot of ones car. The surface is extremely rough and a wheelchair user would have to gain access onto the footpath at the top of the street. A car parked there would also be blocking emergency access to Castle Street car park
‘I have pictures of the bay being used by taxis to park their cars. The disabled parking space on the other side of Main Street is of no use to a person transferring from the driver’s side as they will not be able to gain access to the footpath. It would be obstructing access to a laneway beside Elverys Sports Shop. Mr. Chambers said if the Town Council was serious about implementing the Barcelona Agreement , the first the members should look as is the building in which their meetings are held. ‘The chamber is not wheelchair accessible’ he explained. Mr. Chamber’s letter was raised at the October meeting of the council by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne.
He said the council had signed up to the Barcelona Agreement and should be serious about it. He accepted some work had been done, but a lot more remained to be done. Mr. Ray Norton, town manager, said it was the council’s intention to lower the kerbing at disabled parking spaces. The Mayor, Councillor Blackie Gavin, stated a lot of work had been done throughout the town to lower kerbing to facilitate the disabled and he hoped work of this nature would continue.