Some disabled parking bays in Lichfield city centre could remain out of use until at least September, councillors have confirmed.
The decision to restrict some on-street spaces was first made in July to aid social distancing.
The local authority has since reinstated some of the bays, but it now says others will remain out of use over the coming months.
Cllr Liz Little, cabinet member responsible for economic development, said:
“In partnership with Staffordshire County Council, in July we suspended blue badge parking bays in a number of key streets in Lichfield city centre to allow for better social distancing.
“We also reserved extra parking spaces for blue badge permit holders in nearby car parks. However, following a review we reinstated half of the bays in the city centre in September.
“With COVID-19 cases increasing over the winter, it’s vital there is enough space for social distancing in the city centre.
“This is why Staffordshire County Council has extended the parking order until September 2021 and installed planters, using Active Travel funding, to clearly show the extra space for pedestrians to use.”
Cllr Liz Little, Lichfield District Council
But some motorists have criticised the ongoing closure of the on-street parking.
John Allen told Lichfield Live:
“This is inexcusable discrimination against disabled people who would struggle to access the city centre, as they did in the summer, especially in the market area.
“There are facilities such as opticians, dentists and banks that disabled people will not be able to get to without such parking.”
John Allen
Cllr Little said the decision had been made in a bid to keep shoppers safe.
“These arrangements will be kept under review, but for now the safety of our residents and visitors to the city centre must take priority.”
Cllr Liz Little, Lichfield District Council
The council has failed to consult anyone about these changes since they were first introduced last summer. Talking to another local authority is not consulting. Contacting a recognised leader in accessibility issues, AccessAble, then ignoring each and every recommendation and sticking to your original plan is not consulting. Ignoring the views of local disabled people completely is not consulting.
I would expect the level of ignorance we have heard from members of the public who say the new bays in car parks are OK. They have no desire to understand the difficulties many disabled people have in negotiating even small distances as they rarely if ever look beyond the tips of their own noses. They do not want to understand the difficulties as it does not impact in any way on their lives. They simply do not care to listen or understand.
What is difficult to accept is this same level of ignorance from paid officers and elected councillors charged with being on top of these issues. They have no excuse for not listening or for not wanting to understand the difficulties these changes have caused to so many people. That is a disgraceful dereliction of their roles.
LDC is fast losing my confidence and the local Conservative party I have voted for is fast losing my trust. This issue is one of many where both the council as a whole and the Conservative group in particular should feel ashamed.
We all deserve so much better than we are receiving from both.
This is a poor excuse to prevent disabled parking in Lichfield City Centre. Do you realise that most people when they have parked their car walk around the store towards the front Automatic doors.
There is more Social gathering having everyone parking behind
B&M and walking through the to the front of the store. As I said a poor excuse.
Actually this causes Social gatherings especially at the back doors of the store…….bit easier at the front doors as they are automatic, but all coming out together.
The answer to less disabled parking spaces is GO ELSEWHERE, which we have been doing since they stopped us parking near the shops. We struggle enough in our daily lives and try to be independent, we don’t need the Council kicking us when we are down…..wait for poling day !
Why the disabled car parking? A simple question. Not difficult to answer.
Yes l have written to My MP who in turn wrote to head of LDC last year about this they said it was not a lasting thing & would be reviewed that was last June/July imagine my shock when Specsave sent my appointment 2weeks ago they said l couldnt park outside l was livid, we Blue Badge drivers have got them for a reason so we are being discriminated against it caused even more stress dont you think life is bad enough at this time for us all with out some person sitting behind a desk coming up with yet another stupid idea that makes life a bit more difficult,thank fully the lovely person said dont worry we will let you in through our back door.So l wrote to my MP yet again he is awaiting a reply from LDC person or persons.
The spaces are being suspended in order to allow people to walk in the road, thus avoiding being unnecessarily close to others and upholding social distancing. I don’t know of any other town that still allows blue badge or other parking in the pedestrianised areas come to think of it.
The current mix of traffic and pedestrians isn’t good, given the confusion over who has priority in the shared spaces outside McDonald’s and Market Square.
As it happens, no one walks in the road where the blue badge spaces are coned off because there’s nothing to say they can or should. The situation at present is a mess.
Nice to get some response from the council after weeks of trying, so thanks to Lichfield Live for highlighting this issue. How are obstructions like these overgrown plant pots going to help social distancing? Surely people know how to maintain a suitable distance by now? This is another crazy idea from a council who really don’t have a clue. Is there a hidden agenda here, or just the usual incompetence we have come to expect from LDC? This is discrimination, pure and simple. Perhaps the Equality and Human Rights commission would like to know about this. LDC have taken a reasonable parking system and screwed it up, but won’t admit it.
I know it is an unpopular view on here, but I’ve long thought that this area needs to be fully pedestrianised, with vehicular access only for emergency services and essential deliveries to businesses at strictly regulated times. The streets are small and narrow, not suited to motor vehicles and the potential for a serious accident is always present. Distancing from other people is difficult at present and I think the council are trying to do the right thing. No solution is likely to keep everyone happy.
As I said earlier, I don’t think the average person knows that the purpose of the planters and cones is to broaden the area available for pedestrians and thus create more distance between people. There are no markers on the pavement to indicate this.
I happen to agree that the town should be vehicle free
and it would be a nicer place for it.
LDC has failed spectacularly with this from the moment when the disabled bays were coned off without any prior warning. I am idealogically opposed to Barry Scott but everything he says in his comment is 100% accurate. This is a farce of LDC’s own making.
The hybrid pedestrianised / disabled access is a mess! LDC should make it fully pedestrianised area permanently or properly enforce the widespread abuse that goes on.
Lichfields pedestrian zone is not a pedestrian zone as one has to dodge blue badge drivers. Shrewsbury, Chester, York and other towns and cities have pedestrian zones completely traffic free
Well Lichvegas, P Destrian, Clare and Mike, you are clearly fortunate in being able to walk a distance to shops and medical facilities. Sadly there a lot of people who can’t, and who depend on such parking to get to them. Many premises are not wheelchair or scooter accessible. The system we had was a reasonable compromise to make premises accessible for all. If anyone was abusing the system, it is unfair to make those in genuine need suffer. As has been said, there has been no consultation on either occasion these draconian measures were taken. Cllr Liz Little is obviously determined to inflict her brainwave on everyone and to hell with disabled people. It really is time this shower were put out of power.
So how do these people cope in the cities I mentioned ??
Well Lichfield is a mediaeval city centre with roads that don’t fit modern life.
The local council seem to enjoy allowing new housing and especially focus on elderly residents. A conflict compared to city centre access…
Not all elderly residents are registered disabled but definitely that demographic can’t walk so far as twenty- somethings.
I think the council’s property decisions are terrible overall and the council seems to wilfully ignore our local heritage however, this disabled access issue is really terrible – what is the council trying to do? Encourage less-able but equally restrict their access?
I repeat some of my earlier posts – please Lichfield, stop voting blindly for tories…they’re systematically ruining this beautiful city.
Lich Vegas I get your overall point but really, in Lichfield? It isn’t a credible idea…should disabled parking access not be deemed ‘essential’ in mediaeval streets where access is only available from vehicles?
So answer a question what do they do in other towns and cities or is it just in Lichfield that they have to park a few feet from the shop door.
@John Allen, It’s quite possible to be pro-blue badge parking and to recognise that it’s not appropriate in some instances. Lichfield is one of them, and l do wonder what access and parking issues are specific to Lichfield that don’t exist in other pedestrianised centres.
Tamworth, Aldridge, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall are all car-free and much better for it.
All vehicles should be banned after 10.00 on all days if this was a H &S matter they would be immediately stopped . It is not safe for pedestrians why should a limited few dictate to the many, what do you lot do in the many places where vehicles are banned? Ie the precinct yes you do manage to go there! As well as the supermarkets and the many other buildings away from your 4 by 4s which some how you manage to get into!
@John Allen I have not said stop disabled parking! I said the existing system is a mess . If blue badge holders continue to have access to the “pedestrianised” areas it should be enforced properly to prevent abuse by anyone that does not qualify for this discretionary access.
Trent – thank you for providing proof of my comment about the public’s level of ignorance.
Once again the Lichfield Council Stazi strikes against the disabled. Why were the bays allocated in the first place, not difficult to work out. ..it’s for the unfortunate people who are unable to get around properly. Prelude to stealth pedestrianisation of these roads by the back door, just wait and see. Disgraceful. This Council needs removing at the next election. Declaration..I am a blue badge holder.
Why not use the market square for blue badge holders on none market days?
I would really like to see cllr Little use her Tigger like energy in thinking out workable solutions for our blue badge holders.
How many times do you see a car stop with a blue badge holder sitting in it whilst an able bodied passenger or driver gets out to go into Lichfield shops. Many times is the answer
Exclusion and enforcement seem to be a recurring theme regarding this issue. If you are restricted by your mobility how else can you access the centre of Lichfield? Parking in the centre was the only option, there is or was no other realistic provision made in Lichfield by LDC who then took that only option away.
Somebody should bring LDC to task about Shop mobility, a potentially useful alternative solution, abandoned in a distant, dark underground car park that is only open by appointment on days that dont have a ‘Y’ in them. I reckon an FOI request would reveal a woefully inadequate embarrassment, you really have to see it, if you can find it, to realise just how awful that shopmobility provision is.
LDC this issue is such a poor reflection on your city, its not welcoming, it just screams that you dont care about the disabled, a sector that you seem happy to bend over backwards for when it comes to building “Luxury retirement homes” evidently only for the fit and healthy pensioner!
I personally have not been into Lichfield centre since the parking restrictions, Tamworth is a far easier, safer and cost effective option to access, that is where my money goes now. As a point of interest 6% of children are disabled, with 16% of working age adults and 45% of adults over State Pension age, can Lichfield businesses afford to turn away that sectors money? Where is the “Economic Development” ??
Mike – more ignorance.
Barry get off your bum and go into Lichfield and watch what happens
Agitator other cities have proper pedestrian zones with zero cars. Walking in Lichfield centre especially near Wilko and the market Square is dangerous as the blue badge drivers seem to think they have priority over pedestrians , eventually some one will get run over then something will have to be done
This just shows why Lichfield & Burntwood voters continue to vote for donkeys…
Such selfish opinions on show.
Get over yourselves…you’ll be elderly & possibly disabled in some way in the next decades…will you feel the same then? Or will you sell up and move to a retirement village with none of these health issues but you’re classed as elderly & disabled with no freedom?Pah!
Council sells lovely green L&B space to yield yet more lucrative elderly- person homes & encourages that demographic to come here…then decides to limit their access to the ancient centre which is the main attraction in Lichfield.
Well, let’s have a proper discussion about this before final decisions are made?
Why can’t the town centre be completely closed to traffic on Saturdays and Sundays? Blue badge holders could park in town on weekdays only and this would ensure the safety of people at the weekend. Every Saturday I witness vehicles driving through the town centre that aren’t displaying a blue badge. Traffic wardens should be stopping cars to ask why they are there and fine those that are breaking the rules. At the moment it’s a free-for-all and not a safe environment to shop.
Mike – its difficult to get off my bum as I am a blue badge holder, I am able to walk but after about 50 metres it really becomes quite difficult to go any further. I have difficulty using a self-propelled wheelchair and the cost of an electric wheelchair is prohibitive. Just so you know, the blue badge is allocated to a person, not a vehicle, so the driver is not necessarily disabled.
Also, not all disabilities that qualify for blue badge permits are visible – in other words, blue badge holders might not be in a wheelchair or even use a walking stick. So never make the mistake, which you seem to do in most of your comments, of making assumptions.
It is also unfortunate to make sweeping generalisations about all blue badge holders or those vehicles displaying the permits are a danger to pedestrians. Just as the fact that not all able-bodied members of the public are ignorant, although some clearly display that trait as their own badge of honour.
As for the situation in other towns and cities that have pedestrianised centres and no blue badge bays, you are 100% correct. But disabled people tend to avoid them and travel to those more enlightened towns and cities that understand what accessibility actually means.
I realise you will probably prefer to remain correct in our own little world and not actually take the trouble to understand the issue from a disabled person’s perspective, but if you do find the time please take a read at this or any of the blogs on AccessAble’s website. You might actually learn something https://www.accessable.co.uk/articles/the-importance-of-accessibility-in-the-new-normal
Pavements are for pedestrians to walk on and the road in the middle is for drivers to get throu to be allowed to park in disabled blue badge area ,in front of b&m there is social walking pace ,at the side of boots upwards there is social walking for pedestrians, there are parks in beacon park to walk in ,when a lady or a gent gets elderly with a blue badge should be allowed to park to be close to dentists appointments, to eye tests , to hairdressers, to banking to have a coffee a little food to get to market to get to veg fruit chemist excetra.
Barry so blue badge holders do not go to York,or Shrewsbury or Chester. As for your other remarks I have walked down the middle of the road by Wilko to be swarm at by a blue badge holder as I was in the road ( pedestrian zone) and was in his way. That does not do your argument much good
Mike, in answer to your question as to what ‘these people’ do in other towns- l don’t know, l don’t live there. Perhaps they have some genius schemes for ensuring equal access for disabled people, although I doubt it, or perhaps there are parts of the town that are not accessible. Lichfield is not the only place where blue badge holders could park in an otherwise pedestrianised area, like Walsall for instance. Not all disabled people use wheelchairs or mobility scooters, many simply can’t walk very far. As for abuse of the scheme, there are inconsiderate people in all walks of life, that is a poor excuse for penalising everyone. No doubt if the city centre was awash with wheelchairs and mobility scooters you would complain about that. Pedestrianisation is a laudable thing, but with adequate provision for those with mobility problems. That is the law, you may be surprised to hear, as well as a moral duty in any civilised society.
Mike – I have been to all 3 of those places as a blue badge holder, I only went once.
Was this incident by Wilko when the disabled bays were in use and traffic was permitted to use the road in order to access the parking provision? Do you walk down the middle of all roads waving a flag and warning the public about the dangers of the internal combustion engine? Or do you just like to try and prove your ill-informed, blinkered, ignorant and prejudiced point of view only in those places where there are disabled parking bays?
Barry it is a pedestrian zone so if I want to walk down the middle of it I have a perfect right to without being sworn at by a driver who might or might not have been entitled to a blue badge, Question how do you get to say the Co-op travel or WH Smiths etc presume by walking or an electric buggy. As I have never mentioned anything about any disability I might or might not have you are being very presumptuous with your comments
ML/Mike – I visit the shops I’m able to visit. Simple really.
Blue Badges relate to disabled drivers and/or passengers. So all your comments are about disability.
The pedestrian zone includes access for deliveries and use of the disabled bays – when they were available. So it seems a little myopic to be surprised by a vehicle if you are walking down the middle of the road itself.
Myopic, but not the least bit surprising as you clearly believe the rest of the world revolves around you and you are happy to remain ignorant and discriminatory towards anyone or anything that dares to impact on that.
Keep walking down the middle of roads waving your little flag. It obviously keeps you feeling self-righteous and hugely pleased with yourself.
Pedestrians have priority in a pedestrianised area, or have I misunderstood something?
Lichvegas – Yes they do. But walking down the middle of the road with traffic behind you seems to be pursuing the point a little too extremely. I’m sure the sensible solution would be to move to one side to allow the traffic to pass. Unless you think the traffic mounting the pavement area to avoid someone walking down the middle of the road area is a better alternative?
I would be more worried about being mown down by the boy racers in Tesco carpark in an evening. Over in Holland, they have put in shared spaces in towns where traffic and pedestrians negotiate for space. I am not aware of carnage resulting from this, but perhaps the arrogant territorial urge is less over there. Or perhaps they are more tolerant and understanding than some who have posted on here.
Barry what do the huge notices say, Pedestrian Zone so pedestrians can walk where they want or is your knowledge of the English language lacking
Barry, the point is it’s a pedestrian priority – so if a driver has to wait for a few seconds to pass, so be it.
@Barry Scott, I’m glad you are aware of all the facts and encouraging us to be considerate of each other. Not all drivers do this, unfortunately, blue badge or otherwise. How fast are cars supposed to drive in these areas? 5MPH? I’m sure no one needs to be driving on the pavement.
I’ve had a few verbal altercations with motorists in my time, and I’ve been involved in protests which have blocked roads. None of us is perfect, not me, not the Fast & Furious Posse in the Tesco car park of an evening, not even the sainted pensioners of Lichfield.
@John Allen, I’d be interested to know how this ‘negotiation for space’ works in Holland. I think I’d like a suit of armour to make the playing field a bit more level, but I guess I’m just territorial that way.
It helps in Holland that the car is not king, like it is in Britain.
Mike – you are clearly discriminatory and prejudiced against disabled people.
What does a Blue Badge mean to you? In your comments here and previously on this subject the Blue Badge means people who are not disabled using them to park anywhere they want, it means bad drivers who abuse pedestrians and it means disabled people have no right to access the city centre. Plaid enough English for you?
P Destrian – I am not disputing that fact. I’m disputing the assertion that all Blue Badge users are poor drivers who swear at pedestrians and have no right to access the city centre. I am also disputing the fact that Blue Badge holders can easily access the city centre and whatever shops/businesses they need from any car park in Lichfield.
Lichvegas – Indeed, I am encouraging us to be considerate of each other. The council and a lot of commentators on here continually fail to do exactly that.
Whst is clear from the comments here is that every single one of us loves sweeping generalisations.
(Kitty – that is sarcasm agsin, sorry)
I have written to Mr Pullen the leader of the council 3 weeks ago and so far, no reply. I didn’t write to Liz Little as I have been told by a lot of people that she is unapproachable. They mention about safe distancing and yet they keep Tudor row open despite there being gates at both ends. I have spoken to legal advisors who say the council are discriminating against disabled people and if taken to court, they would loose. I would like to know if there are any disabled councillors, if so please contact me. I think i know the answer to that one.
Ray
Just ask the council if it is legal for them to collect parking fees for anyone using Bird Street Car Park!
I heard a rumour that when the land was sold it was under the provision that no one would be able to be charged – makes for an interesting discussion if true!
Can we get a few things straight. Under the LDC Accessibility Statement 2020 the first two categories of people with Protected Rights who should be considered when any access is changed are those of (1) Age (2) Disability followed by many others. Central Government – The Traffic Management Act 2004: network management in response to COVID-19 updated in May 2020 should also be read. Both of these documents state that if any change is proposed, temporary or permanent, then an Impact Statement should be carried out. LDC admitted that during the first suspension it did not carry out this procedure so had no idea of how many residents/Blue Badge holders were affected. The most recent ban has been implemented by Mr David Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport at Staffordshire CC. I am currently awaiting his response to my letter of 7/2/21. I have pointed out that the independent but severely disabled community in and around Lichfield now find themselves unable to use their own VITAL services – dentists, opticians, banks, solicitors plus essential shops, including pharmacies in their own City. I have also advised him that not all Blue Badge holders are able to walk from the many fringe car parks, especially those using walking aids or double crutches as it is impossible to carry shopping as well as using aids for the distance now required. I have asked for sight of the Impact Statement he carried out before implementation!!
Whilst appreciating that many non-disabled residents in the past used Lichfield as a shopping and visitor venue, under the current Central Government lockdown, it is only the severely disabled LOCAL people who are suffering this targeted suspension. Visitors should not be visiting the City and many photographs taken show how empty the various streets are – there is no current problem with social distancing as there are so few people around. The whole area is dead and lifeless. The few shops that are able to open are struggling tremendously and, according to my research, are missing the disabled shoppers who (a) prefer to shop locally and (b) who now cannot do so for lack of nearby parking. This has made, and is making life for this group of people extremely hard in an already difficult period for everyone
People like myself who have a severely disabled partner either cannot use Lichfield at all or have to go elsewhere. It is a terrible indictment of our local Councilors who are not following procedure and not representing EVERYONE when implementing these actions. Whether our City can recover long-term from its current devastation remains to be seen but, if it does not, then there will be an almighty impact in lost revenue to LDC.
Can we please have some commonsense applied and try Julie’s suggestion of 3/2/21. Free access and Blue Badge Parking reinstated from Monday to Friday and a total traffic ban at weekends. It’s worth a try? Sorry this is so long.
Many good points there B Porter. Certainly LDC seem in no hurry to do anything about the shambolic situation they have created in the city centre. Despite this issue being highlighted on Lichfield Live, the council are intransigent and uncommunicative. How they can claim to represent their electorate is beyond me.