Bank to take over disabled parking spaces (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Bank to take over disabled parking spaces

11:39am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in News

DISABLED drivers have raised fears over plans to remove 24 specially designated car parking bays for their use.

The car park in William Hunter Way, which has spaces for disabled blue badge holders, is at the centre of a planning application made by Brentwood Council to turn it into a car park for customers of Barclays Bank.

The site, which is separate from the main car park, has 24 spaces for disabled drivers, but if agreed they will all become private bays for the bank.

However, news of the proposals has caused uproar with motorists who use the facilities on a regular basis.

Terry Davis, 86, from Hutton, uses the parking spaces whenever he drives into the town centre and believes losing them would cause real problems for disabled shoppers.

Mr Davis said: “The car park is very well used by disabled drivers and sometimes you turn up there and have to wait about 15 minutes for a space.

“Other than this car park, there isn’t one closer to the High Street which is suitable. Without this car park, it would be almost impossible for me to go to the High Street.”

The council has said it would make sure new disabled spaces are available, which would be “convenient and accessible”.