Council ignoring me, what to do next?

[henrygregory]

Hi, I have a disability with my spine which makes it very painful to walk long distances or carry things such as shopping bags.

I live in a 1960's council residential area of 18 homes which share a residents only car park. Until recently, we have never had troubles, but more and more residents and their children have cars and residents from a nearby private area are starting to park their vehicles in our parking areas.

I have notified the council of this problem and my disability, they at first agreed with me that they should install 'Residents Only' signs, but have never followed this through and are now ignoring my calls and emails. What can I do about this next?

I feel really strongly as I suffer from a painful illness and don't think I should have to keep parking my car a long distance away from my home because our area is completely full. Do the council have an obligation to address this issue? They own the land for all of the council homes and our residential car parking area?

Any help or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[wales01man]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

They might put a Disabled badge holders marked bay in but any badge holder can use that.

[henrygregory]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

They might put a Disabled badge holders marked bay in but any badge holder can use that.

Ok, I should have said but this has dragged on for well over 5 months, I can't believe no one is getting back to me. It is really incompetent.

[enaid]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

Each local council has it's own rules on parking and yellow bays, our council charge £75 to do it and they do not enforce any rules on it so anyone can park there. It is just down to the individual if they are bothered about parking there or not.
If you go on your councils website it should give you the full info on there.

[Johnboy007]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

Do you have a Blue Badge?
Have you applied for a blue badge?
Is your disability permanent, if so do you have medical evidence to prove it.
Depending on your answers, depends on what advice I can give you.
If your disability is permanent then apply for a Blue Badge.
You may have to undergo an assessment.
You will probably get turned down on first application, but there is an appeal procedure.
At the appeal procedure, you may have to undergo a further assessment of your disability.
This is to ensure you are not one of many who abuse the system.

[stevemLS]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

A blue badge doesn't entitle someone to park outside their house.

The council, MAY, if you have a badge, agree to mark up a space specifically for you, but are under no obligation to do so.

[wales01man]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

The space is for ANY badge holder I think you will find

[Johnboy007]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

A blue badge doesn't entitle someone to park outside their house.

The council, MAY, if you have a badge, agree to mark up a space specifically for you, but are under no obligation to do so.

You are absolutely right that the blue badge does not entitle you to park outside your home.
However, if the council agree to install a disabled bay, it will take some time for legislation to take effect.
I overcome this problem while waiting for legislation, by printing a notice saying....
"Disabled Parking Required Outside This House".
I added a disabled wheelchair symbol for good measure.
And then I laminated the sign and fixed this to the outside of my front fence, and it had the desired effect.
No-one parked there.
I stuck my blue badge on my dashboard and that was it.
The council had marked out a bay with the wording DISABLED at the front.
It was some time before the bay was approved by the government department.
The council then stuck a 'BLUE BADGE HOLDERS ONLY' sign on the lamp post next to it.
However, the council will not mark out a bay specifically for a Blue Badge holder.
At least my council wont.

[wales01man]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

My point any Badge holder could park there

[Johnboy007]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

My point any Badge holder could park there

Absolutely right..........
But unless you are inundated with disabled people, you stand a better chance of parking there.

[stevemLS]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

In Leeds I often see single bays on residential streets.

I think my point was whilst some will do it, they are not under any obligation to do it so some won't

[Johnboy007]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

In Leeds I often see single bays on residential streets.

I think my point was whilst some will do it, they are not under any obligation to do it so some won't

I agree Steve, it depends on how many disabled bays are in the vicinity of the claimant...

[stevemLS]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

Maybe the most constructive suggestion would be to contact your Ward Councillor, OP?

[Johnboy007]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

Maybe the most constructive suggestion would be to contact your Ward Councillor, OP?

Until you have applied for a blue badge and got one, it's no use contacting anyone, unless you are satisfied with a 'residents only parking sign.

[henrygregory]

Re: Council ignoring me, what to do next?

My golly, what a debate this has caused!
I do have a permanent disablement, but have never applied for a disability card for the car as I feel far too many people abuse it and although I may well qualify (I have a life long condition which deteriorates with age), I don't think I really need one. I have always been able to park fine at home and equally fine at work, so it is a door to door scenario for me with no walking in between. Seems a little over the top to go for one of these badges, just because I can't park at home. If everyone who had a disability, applied for one of these cards, there would not be enough spaces for disabled people.

I should have made it more clear, but when I contacted the council, I wanted them to address the problem on behalf of all residents (I was not just considering myself). Disabled or not, it must be an utter nightmare for the other folk who return home from a hard days' work and can't find anywhere to park their vehicle. I strongly believe that it is the council's responsibility to tackle the problem. If it means going through the process of applying for a badge and wasting all of that time and resources, maybe I should go for it? Seems madness!
How they can just keep ignoring someone is beyond me. If I behaved like this at work, I wouldn't have a job next week.