Blue Badge holders hit back at decision to put disabled parking bays for Rochdale Town Hall some 500m away

Local Blue Badge holders have hit back at a controversial decision to replace the lost disabled parking bays at the town hall with some 500m away.

The Blue Badge scheme is designed to help those in need park closer to their destination if they are disabled. Many people with Blue Badges have severe mobility problems, or are registered disabled, whilst people with stress, anxiety or other mental health issues may also apply.

With the creation of a new pedestrianised town hall square on the former town hall car park, 18 parking bays for Blue Badge holders have been lost, with the council now revealing that extra Blue Badge bays have been added – nearly half a kilometre away.
 

Read more: Blue Badge owners hoping to visit Rochdale Town Hall expected to park 500m awayPublished: 12 September 2023

The town hall itself – expected to reopen in late 2023 - is a popular wedding venue, hosts regular events, and has a restaurant in the clock tower.

The walking distance between the Smith Street car park at the former Mecca Bingo to the town hall – via Smith Street and South Parade – is 483m, whilst the Esplanade spaces are around a 321m walking distance from the town hall.

Other designated spaces on Newgate are shared with a taxi rank, meaning those with a Blue Badge can only park there between 10am and 6pm – a decision which local resident Rachel Winnard has branded “discriminatory.”

Rachel was born a very rare genetic condition called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), which means her muscles, tendons and ligaments turn into bone. She uses a wheelchair as those with FOP can become forced to choose between being able to stand or sit as new bone forms.

Rachel – who has a very active social life – said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. As if there’s not enough disabled parking as it is, they’ve gone and done that! I’m so mad.

“I got a parking ticket the other day because after 6pm the disabled spaces [on Newgate] turn into a taxi rank. It makes me feel a little discriminated as it makes out that disabled people don't go out after a certain time.

“On Saturday 9 September, my carer and I parked my disability van on Newgate and displayed my blue badge. On returning to the van, we noticed we had been issued a penalty charge notice. We were very surprised as where we parked is where we have parked previously with no issues. On the PCN, it states that we were parked in a taxi rank.

“We had no idea this area had been turned into a taxi rank after a certain time. We always park there as I was going to the Flying Horse.”

Rachel had met her brother, visiting from Liverpool, at the Flying Horse Hotel and was out until 8.30pm that night.

The Newgate spaces are the closest to the Packer Street pub, excluding the two behind the venue on the Lower Broadfield car park.

She continued: “It would help if I could get a taxi and I wouldn't have to park in Rochdale.

“It is already frustrating enough, as a disabled person, not being able to get into places, even my local park has inconsiderate people who park in front of the only drop curb that would allow me to enter.

“This means when I have travelled down in my wheelchair, and someone is blocking the entrance, I either have to go back home, or my carers have to look for the owner of the car and ask them to move it.

“I even visited my local supermarket the other day which turned into a nightmare. I attempted to go through to the self-checkouts with my carer, but my chair wouldn't go through as the gap was too small. The only way out was to wait in a queue at the till and wait my turn to get out that way. Not very practical when my carer was waiting outside with the shopping.”

Other local Blue Badge holders and local residents have also branded the move “disgusting” and have urged the council to rethink where the nearest parking bays for Blue Badge holders visiting the town hall should be.

Mike Fishwick, who used to run Fishwick's Newsagents on The Walk, has held a Blue Badge since 1994.

He said: “I was made paraplegic in 1994, and have many times challenged the lack of accessibility parking for disabled people in Rochdale, and the way they are treated by parking wardens who have no understanding of the difficulty stress and anxiety.

“To hear the pathetic answer from an elected councillor [below] regarding a designated Blue Badge parking area so far away from the town hall makes me lost for words.

“Since I became disabled, we have lost 50% of disabled parking and in the time the number of Blue Badges issued has doubled. Many times recently I've tried to park close to my bank etc. and failed so returned home."

Amin Janjua said: “This is absolutely disgusting. To walk 500m each way is hard when you’re a holder of a blue badge.

“I absolutely love Rochdale, my children were born in Birch Hill hospital and my wife and I used to take them in pushchairs in Rochdale town centre.

“I’m now suffering from some disability and I have a blue badge.

“A few months ago, my son, Mobeen, and I went to the town centre and made a video of the town and posted on Rochdale Past and Present.

“The town centre is absolutely beautiful and the video was well liked by the members. The problem was parking; we should have sufficient parking for disabled blue badge holders.

“I love the architecture of the old buildings; this makes Rochdale stand out as a unique town.

“Please, our great councillors, please do allow for more parking for disabled people, and in the right place.”

Kathryn Carr said: “I can’t believe that this is going to happen. Why were people who need/have a blue badge not considered or consulted? You really need to reconsider this please.”

Tony O’Toole said: “Unless you are lucky enough to find one of the few on street disabled car parking spaces in the town centre, then it is useless visiting these days as a disabled person.

“Self-propelling a wheelchair is very tiring and the people who are in charge of disabled matters should spend a few days in a chair to see the difficulties for themselves.”

David Foster said: “These planners and those that passed it need to try walking or using a wheelchair or walking stick and umbrella across this area in the pouring rain, icy ground or gale force winds.”

Margaret Hodgkinson said: “Exactly what I've been saying for months. Elderly and disabled people are not taken into consideration in Rochdale anymore.”

Deborah Chapman said: “As if they haven't made it hard enough in that area. I'm disabled and if I want to shop there, I have to do it over a few days each time paying for taxis as I cannot walk far enough to cover enough shops.

“Now they mess it up for people visiting the town hall too. It doesn't surprise me, the whole of Rochdale is a damn mess and hard to access certain parts so no wonder a lot of us prefer to go out of the area to shop. When the new apartments are ready, we will face further problems but as long as those who get their pockets lined are still getting paid, nobody gives a damn about the rest of us.”

Reece Horton said: “If they don’t provide better parking with people who are disabled so they can enjoy the town, I can’t support the town hall or the town. Disabled people are a big part of the Rochdale community as much as others are. So wrong on many levels.”

Councillor Shah Wazir, Cabinet Member for Highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We know that, as we continue the large scale regeneration and improvement of Rochdale town centre, we must balance the needs of different visitors to the area, to ensure that everybody’s requirements are considered.

“As part of this work, officers from our highways team met with RADDAG (Rochdale and District Disability Action Group) before the town hall re-development work began.  

“We’ve reinstated in other parts of the town centre the disabled bays which were removed as part of work to redevelop Town Hall Square. These include additional spaces on the Esplanade and an increase to the provision which was available on Newgate, with the implementation of new daytime disabled parking provision. As the town centre continues to develop, we will continue to keep this situation under review.

“Anyone who believes they have been issued a parking ticket incorrectly is encouraged to submit appeal using the details on their penalty charge notice.”