Taxi Driver Online

Trowbridge disabled driver hits out at fine

source: http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/48 ... t_at_fine/


A disabled man has criticised the lack of consideration for disabled people in Trowbridge after being fined for parking in an empty taxi rank.

Neil Gumm, 40, of Westfield Road, suffers from cerebral palsy and is not able to walk more than a few yards without resting.

He was given the £35 fine after parking in the taxi rank outside Nationwide Building Society, Castle Street, on December 17, while visiting The Shires shopping centre.

He said: “I was only going to be a few minutes. I have a wheelchair but it is a lot of work to put it in the car just to go to one shop.

“I can’t walk any distance, and I went into The Shires for only 10 to 15 minutes.

“If there had been taxis in the rank I wouldn’t have considered parking there, but as it wasn’t in use I thought it would be okay.”

Mr Gumm’s blue badge does not cover parking in such areas, but he felt the traffic warden should have taken account of his disability and retracted the fine.

He has since had an appeal turned down. He said: “If the council hadn’t refused to fund the Shopmobility in a growing town, I would have parked at the multi-storey and used that. There isn’t anywhere else to park that is close enough. It is wrong that they prioritise taxis over disabled people.

“It is difficult for disabled people in Trowbridge, there are many shops which I can’t get into.

“I was just in Superdrug and there were big baskets blocking the aisles, a wheelchair couldn’t get through there, and the new Gateway development has no disabled parking.

“They say it is equal opportunities but I don’t think it is.”

Jayne Webb who works for charity Disabled On Line, which runs the Trowbridge Internet Café for Disabled People, said: “There is definitely a lack of parking for disabled people in Trowbridge. Despite being here 10 years Wiltshire Council won’t allow us any parking spaces, which makes it very difficult for our customers.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We are unaware of any requests to increase the amount of disabled parking. We would encourage Mr Gumm to get in contact if he has any complaints. We are currently reviewing parking restrictions in the town and will consider any suggestions people make.

“It is important there is parking available in Trowbridge which meets the needs of everyone in the town.”

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Shouldn't have parked there then. On the badge it says where you can and where you can't park. I think he'll find Taxi Ranks being one of them.

As for the £36 refund, just pay it mate and don't park there again.

Consideration was already taken into account when these blue badges where issued. They can park in a lot more places than most people so he should have used one of those. Sometimes people with disabilities think they are something special and don't need to abide by any laws I'm glad to see that nobody backed down in this case

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!