A motorist says she does not feel welcome in Lichfield anymore after changes were made to on street parking provision.
Many blue badge bays were removed during the Covid pandemic to aid social distancing.
Some were used to allow restaurants and bars to serve outdoors, while other spaces were taken out of use to create space when people were queuing outside shops.
Although replacement disabled spaces were introduced in nearby car parks, many on street bays have not returned following the removal of Covid restrictions – something being questioned by disabled motorists.
Dawn Burnage said there was no reason why some of the spaces could not be reinstated.
“I couldn’t park in the town at all, as Bore Street was full with not only disabled but the cafe tables, which I have no objection to, a skip and a highway lorry.
“All I wanted was the bank, nowhere else and I wanted to go in on sticks instead of unloading my scooter.
“The council used the excuse of Covid outside the banks to stop us parking, which I understand because of people queuing outside them.
“We don’t have to social distance anymore, so why are they still stopping us from parking in the spaces not occupied by cafe tables?
“I, like others, don’t feel welcome in the city anymore.”
Dawn Burnage
Lichfield District Council has recently completed a consultation on continuing with plans for pavement cafes, revealing an “overwhelming” majority backed them.
But Dawn said many of those impacted by the removal of the spaces may not have been aware it was taking place.
“The whole point of a blue badge is that you are unable to walk any distance – not everyone has access to mobility aids like scooters or electric wheelchairs, and we just want to feel normal, not a nuisance.
“The council did a survey about keeping the street cafes but I and others don’t feel it was fair. As far as we are aware, this was online only, and I only saw it because someone had shared it.
“Also, a lot of pensioners don’t do social media or even know how to use the internet. With all the retirement homes being built, disabled parking is needed more than ever.
“I, like a lot of other people, don’t feel welcome anymore, so as a result we shop elsewhere.
“People are moaning about shops closing but if we can’t access the centre, we can’t shop locally anymore.”
Dawn Burnage
Lichfield District Council has been asked for comment.
A spokesperson for the local authority has previously said:
“We are committed to making Lichfield city centre a vibrant, safe and exciting place to live work and play.
“Car parking for blue badge holders is a vital consideration and while some parking bays have been moved to accommodate the pavement cafes, we have allocated alternative blue badge parking spaces in the city centre at Bird Street Car Park and Lombard Street Car Park.
“As a council we will ensure we communicate with any affected residents and visitors to ensure parking is well signposted.
“We would also like to reiterate that blue badge holders can park in any council owned car park for free, if they display their badge.
“We are always looking for ways to balance the needs of different people and to support our disabled residents and visitors.
“We have contracted disability consultancy AccessAble to review the parking provision in Lichfield city centre and we look forward to receiving their report.”
Lichfield District Council spokesperson
Disgusting disabled people with no legs can not access shops and banks pavements are dirty with food all over them very selfish
Genuine question – what do disabled people do without a scooter, can’t walk the distance, and need to access a shop? We can’t have disabled spaces outside every shop.
Totally agree with Dawn. No objection to pavement cafes but these have turned into “parking bay” cafes! Many shops have been affected by this parking ban – surely it doesn’t need to be a blanket one for the whole of Bore Street and Market Square? Not been for ages (wonder why?!) but surely there’s only one cafe in Bore Street?
I feel that Dawn Burnage and many other disabled people are being ignored at present by able bodied individuals who are in a position, just to make their lives a little easier. Surely around ,let’s say ten parking bays could be provided centrally. Believe me this would really be so beneficial to peoples health and wellbeing, especially during bad weather and the onset of Winter. Its not acceptable to think that disabled parking bays will be fine two or three hundred meters away. Please let’s have some compassion and common sense.
My late wife was disabled and these parking bays really made a difference when we were in Lichfield. Fortunately I’m able bodied for now,but there for the grace of God ay……please just do the right thing.
Chris Edwards.
I fully agree with Dawn. I too no longer feel welcome. It is very difficult to walk with my rollator from the above mentioned car parks and I cannot afford a scooter or electric wheelchair. If I could I wouldn’t be able to get it in my little old car. And I certainly can’t afford a new one with the current financial situation. Like she said I didn’t know about any consultation and on the odd occasion when I have tried to add to consultations I have not been able to access it as I only have a smart phone not a computer. I only go to Lichfield now when I have an appointment at my audiologists or opticians. Mum and I used to go in every week to shop and eat and we haven’t done this now for over two years. How many more people are in the same position. So I’m guessing Lichfield is losing a lot of money because of this. Hopefully the disability consultancy AccessAble will understand the needs of the disabled, unlike Lichfield District Council. And we will once again be welcome into Lichfield. Then it really will be a vibrant place for all to enjoy.
What about disabled people who are not disgusting? Seems a bit harsh to call those without legs “disgusting.”
As mentioned you cannot have parking spots or drive through for every shop now can you ? It’s just a change from the norm and disabled people need to adapt and work around the problem? The council have provided spaces back if B&M which could be made much better and allow very easy access to the city centre
Predictably a mixed response, including the clueless people who seem to think that disabled people want parking outside every shop, which is just silly, or that parking hundreds of yards away is acceptable for those struggling to get around. The original removal of disabled parking from the market place was the brainchild of one Liz Little, who was keen to say that she had consulted a disability organisation, but neglected to say she had ignored their advice. It was justified for social distancing, which ceased to be a valid reason some time ago. In any case, people huddled close together on outdoor seating, or crushed together in food fairs made a mockery of this excuse. There aren’t too many cafes with outdoor seating, and certainly not in the market square, but it is a kick in the teeth for disabled people that some of them are on former disabled bays.
What you forget John is nearly every town in the country manages without allowing cars to drive into their town centre ? Are you now saying Lichfield disabled are more disabled than other areas ? I think not but please feel free to expand on the subject
One benefit of pavement cafes for wheelchair users must be that they are more accessible than many of the indoor cafes with steps leading up to narrow entrances. There also seems to be enough room for disabled parking and a few pavement cafes in Lichfield. By the way, off the top of my head, I can think of four cafes and pub on Bore Street. It could be more.
It’s all about money. I am sure LDC aren’t letting cafes use the pavements for free. There will be costs involved. They don’t benefit financially from disabled parking bays.
On a rainy day, can I suggest that council members borrow a wheel chair or Zimmer, park in bird street car park (when they can eventually find a parking space) make there way down to Boots for there order, noting the, temporally for covid, empty street cafés, then after a rest in the markets square, if they can find a seat, return to there car, or else they could risk the uncompromising traffic warden and park up behind one of those empty street cafes. Councillors, remember, a physical disability does not mean you cannot vote!
@aEd Bee…. these aren’t pavement cafes, they’re on the road occupying what were blue-badge parking spaces. Hence the brouhaha.
LDC think they can do as they want. Especially with the backing of Mr Fabricant. Give disabled drivers back the parking spaces. Conservatives have been in charge to long, they dont consult the residents of this fair city. Perhaps it’s time for a change
The majority of the “present” disabled parking provision in Lichfield is to far away for those with mobility problems. Fact.
The “Shopmobility” service is non existent, how many times has it been used in the last year LDC??
There is no compromise and no reasonable adjustment made for the disabled, it has all been removed, with the Disabled allocation been a few temporary spaces behind B&M, which are often used incorrectly with cones & plastic dividers all over the place, wow.
As such a whole section of society has taken their business elsewhere, why struggle when you can park for all of your shopping requirements in Tamworth Ventura, or go somewhere that provides electric scooters for free like McArthur Glen at Cannock.
Strangely, disabled people like nice towns with nice cafes & shops, we don’t like been treated like second class citizens and excluded. There are alternatives, but Lichfield is woefully behind the provision of them.
Lichfield will now loose a lot of trade with the disabled bays not being by the bank’s, it as taken custom off the Nat West Bank which is now going to close.
Tesco had parking machines which I think lost them trade, not in use at present
Disabled people have enough to contend with, without more hurdles.
They keep wanting more cafe’s, I think people will have a strong coffee and go,so will be used for that
How can cafe pavement seating that are a norm in other UK towns and cities and all across the Europe and the other continents be such an issue for Lichfield and the regular naysayers on Lichfield Live. Read the room…there’s much be issues to be dealt with.
The parking in Cannock is very good for disabled and there is wonderful shopping area as well as a new designer village maybe lichfield has decided to be the cafe and pub only city. Sad it used to be lovely to shop there sadly not anymore.
The parking in Cannock is very good for disabled and there is wonderful shopping area as well as a new designer village maybe lichfield has decided to be the cafe and pub only city. Sad it used to be lovely to shop there sadly not anymore.
Not being a resident of Lichfield myself I am not sure if I am allowed an opinion .
However I often visit Lichfield in preference to both Derby and Burton Upon Trent .
That said there have been several occasions , whilst visiting when I have felt that as a mobilty scooter user I am considered a nuisance and that neither my presence or cash is either wanted or needed in Lichfield .
On one visit I was talking to local disabled person and we came to the conclusion that there should be signs at the Streethay junction of the A38 advising visiting disabled people that they are not welcomed in Lichfield , which is a shame because it is a delightful place to come .
The council must reintroduce the parklng imediatley not to do so will probably mean more shop closures.m
Steph are you kidding? Wonderful shopping in Cannock town centre? I’ve just spat out my tea! It’s a dive. I’m surprised they don’t pay you to park and shop there. The designer outlet is ok.
As somebody who has run groups for the elderly and disabled , never once have I heard anybody go into any of these groups and ask them their opinion on parking for the disabled in Lichfield.
Lichfield will become a ghost city because even able bodied people are now turning their backs due to the lack of convenient parking facilities.
It’s time Lichfield planners put people first and maybe Lichfield could become vibrant again.
As usual many people in the comments have been conned into thinking this is a black and white issue, either no cafés with on street seating and no disabled parking or disabled parking and no cafés with pleasant outside seating, when it isn’t like this at all. Where the disabled needs reintroducing isn’t where the cafés have their seating so it is possible to reintroduce it. The problem is that yet again our council has a tin ear and think they know best without listening to those with knowledge in this area. I just can’t believe people vote for these incompetent fools. This city deserves much better.