A petition has been launched in a bid to reinstate on street blue badge parking bays removed as part of a pedestrianisation trial in Lichfield city centre.
The move was introduced at the start of the year on roads including Market Street, Conduit Street Tamworth Street, Breadmarket Street and Bore Street.
It means no vehicles can use the roads between midday and 9pm.
The trial will run for 18 months as part of an agreement between Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council.
But an online petition has been launched by Deborah Litherland-Smith calling for a u-turn on the pedestrianisation move. She said:
“This Traffic Regulation Order is being implemented without any prior meaningful consultation with businesses or residents.
“Several healthcare providers exist within this zone – Bore Street Dental Practice provides NHS care to more than 150 patients daily, of which over 20 rely on the blue badge parking.
“There is no alternative NHS provision within the area. This equates to around 5,000 of our most vulnerable residents being unable to receive dental care.
“A hearing centre is also set to relocate to an alternate town as a direct result of this move.”
Deborah Litherland-Smith
Speaking when the scheme was announced last year, Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said:
“Vehicle-free spaces make city centres more pleasant places to be – they are safer, have cleaner air and become more prosperous.
“This 18-month trial will give us invaluable feedback as we seek to make the long-called for pedestrianisation a permanent improvement to our beautiful city.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
I wouldn’t worry if I were them, there’s zero enforcement of the pedestrian zone anyway. Every week I’m in Lichfield I see people driving around Market Street without a care in the world. It is LDC after all, they get very little right.
Is there a single section of society who aren’t described as “vulnerable”? It seems to be the buzzword of the decade.
Where can we sign the petition ?
All the parking bays in Bore Street should be disabled parking. Also, Wade Street should be disabled parking only. The Multi Story car park could be used instead, maybe with first hour free parking. Might solve the problem.
In the Market Square on Saturday 14th Jan at around 3.30pm I saw at least three cars driving through the supposed pedestrianised streets. They weren’t delivering anything and had no blue badge displayed. Are barriers going to be installed at the end of Tamworth Street? There seems to be no enforcement of the vehicle ban so how are pedestrians meant to feel safe walking around the city centre?
Residents who live in the city centre & business’s can apply for a permit to access their properties perhaps those are the vehicles you are seeing.
To isolate a whole section of the community (the elderly & disabled) from using the essential services in those streets is very short sited of Lichfield council. City centre retailers are dismayed as they were NOT consulted & oppose this strongly. Lichfield city centre was not broken so did not need fixing!!!
There are a number of other NHS dentists in Lichfield.
The city centre should be traffic free, it creates a much safer and enjoyable environment.
There is a NHS dentist in Wade Street ? The Hearing Centre also has rear parking ? As mentioned before you cannot expect parking outside every business now can you ?
Yes Mr Legs, you have mentioned this before, and it is just as silly to mention it again. No-one is suggesting that people should be able to park outside every business, and it demonstrates a lack of understanding of the issues on your part. I don’t think it unreasonable to expect disabled parking in key areas, like we used to have. If non-disabled drivers abuse the system, that is a matter of enforcement, not the fault of disabled, and this is surely not beyond the wit of man.
I think it would be wonderful to have genuinely traffic free streets in the city centre, but as per other comments, the current trial is being ignored anyway. Every time I have walked in the centre over the last two weeks traffic has been driving around market square. This can only work if smart bollards are installed, as in other successful pedestrianised zones across the country.
John Allen you have a short memory? Do you not remember the car crashes through the shop window ? Good job no one was in the way ? cars and people don’t mix regardless of ability so face the fact the majority or Lichfield residents approve of the scheme. A barrier system is needed unless it’s going to be policed properly.
The moves by the council seem like someone’s vanity project at the expense of those less able themselves to access the city centre, is this not active discrimination by the council?? A vibrant city should be welcoming to all groups including limited mobility. Decarbonising the city centre doesn’t start with banning blue badge holders from businesses and vital services, how much carbon are you attributing to this group please. Manage the roads, put up ANPR cameras, fine anyone not permitted (non blue badge holders or non permit holders) and use that revenue to improve the city centre.
Mr Pullen is delusional about this scheme. There is no pedestrian only system working or on trial in Lichfield.
Any walking pedestrians within the designated areas can now vouch that the car’s breaking the law within the scheme just now are more dangerous than before. Drivers entering the designated areas now seem to treat it as a challenge to see how many pedestrians they can threaten yes threaten to get right of way.
Can we as law abiding citizens actually block these idiots
Let’s get cameras fitted and signs in place that make it a worthwhile trial
Where are our parking wardens. Have they been given any instructions on policing the said areas
I’m happy that the centre is being pedestrianised and I love that cafes can now offer outdoor seating with the space. I do not see what the fuss is about here at all.
I saw a parking officer in town earlier this week and enquired what was going on as idiots are still driving through the town. She knew nothing about it!!!! They need to install some sort of ANPR cameras and fine the drivers. Think of the revenue they would get ftom that. It’s a complete shambles.
Not surprised there is confusion. The signage at Tamworth Street doesn’t detail the new restrictions.
Mr Legs, perhaps you could assist with my short memory. How many car crashes are we talking about here? One? More? According to your reasoning, we should ban all cars from all built up areas. Perhaps you should start a petition to do this, and see how far you get. I am not a big fan of cars, but for many disabled people they are the only option for getting around and accessing shopping areas and services.. I fully agree that the antics of inconsiderate and dangerous drivers need to be clamped down on. That is unfortunately a symptom of modern society, but discriminating against disabled people is not the answer.
The last time I wheeled myself around the market square I did so on a perfectly good pavement. (I use a wheel chair occasionally as I have mobility issues) I had no problems getting to where I wanted to go whilst still on the pavement. The pavements run right around the market square and on both sides of Bore street. It is also both sides of Tamworth Street. I suggest if you don’t want to come into conflict with disabled drivers trying to enjoy the same shops and other amenities in the city center DONT WALK DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. Treat the city center like any othe road and there isn’t a problem. Lichfield Council are practicing blatant discrimination against the disabled and completely ignoring the advice given to them when they contacted the disabled charities for guidance on this very issue.
Angry man it is a pedestrian zone so if I want to meander down the middle of the road I can
What do you think about the pedestrianisation of Norwich City centre?
How much are the cafes, coffee shops etc., paying in extra rates for the use of the public footpaths and roads for their tables and chair’s. Would be nice to know how much revenue we are receiving for this extra customer space.
Mike, you are correct the city center is a pedestrian zone. The bit missing from that statement is “with disabled driver vehicle access”. I’m not advocating general access to all and sundry so that people can pop to McDonald’s to grab a burger or to one of the numerous cafe for a take out latte. I’m talking about access and parking for the disabled who have mobility issues and need to park close to the amenities they need. Your meandering down the middle of the road “because I can” is exactly the sort of unconscious bias that makes the fight for this disabled necessity such a struggle. The simple answer is one suggested numerous times in the past issue blue badge holders a permit to be permanently displayed in their vehicles.
Businesses pay £100 annually to apply for a pavement licence which is then posted on the council website for consultation before approval. This has been the case since summer 2020 during covid. I cannot understand why this is suddenly a problem for people now years later when businesses are now on at least their third licence each.
Angry man it is a pedestrian zone so as a pedestrian I have right of way over every vehicle what ever it is except for a vehicle on blue lights.
Why not change the road lay out so vehicles can drive down bore street from the traffic lights and put a ring road at the bottom. Disabled will still be able to park by dentist and wilkos. Then spin round and exit again. That way the middle of town is still car free and disabled still get the spaces they need.
Yes Mike, you can wander down the middle of the road; unfortunately many disabled people can’t and have to rely on vehicle access, and an attitude such as yours makes reaching a reasonable compromise very difficult. At least Ashley Rabone comes up with a constructive idea.
John Allen I can walk too far for a badge but not that far without a rest so take shortest rout from a to b quite usually down the middle of the road
I’ll be honest, I’m dead against it. People forget that traders need access to Dixons.
Some of these people have come from Stoke.
Ashley which building do you think should be demolished to make said turning circle
Let’s just place stingers across the roads and be done with? They seem to work very well at stopping cars ? Disabled drivers you’ve had your day in Lichfield adapt to the new scheme and stop your moaning. It needs a barrier system stopping everyone except for business and emergency access, the traffic wardens need updating on the new scheme and start handing out tickets that will get the message across !!!!
So much for a vehicle free afternoon trial. I’ve only just avoided being run over by a driver racing into tamworth street only to find his car parked next to the Bosworth statue so he can buy some veg off the market stall. Anyone else like to argue against the long overdue pedestrianisation of the city centre?
@Rob. I don’t think you’ll find anyone arguing against pedestrianisation or the restriction of traffic allowed into the city centre. There needs to be better control of what vehicles are entering the area, but those should include blue badge holders who have registered with the Council (alongside essential delivery vehicles etc.) with adequate disabled parking, and there should be penalties for those abusing the privilege (loss of access). At the moment, as far as I’m aware, there are no controls – it’s a trial period in which the Council are just observing.
They’ve paved paradise to put up a parking lot…
Long time since I made my comment. Thanks for all the 👍 but still no official apology from any councillors or responsible people of the council to apologise for the fiasco that we see as the pedestrian free areas now working in Lichfield City Centre. Sorry not working
Who ever it was that decided to make Lichfield a Pedestalised zone! Needs to hand in their Resignation!
No thought has been put into such a Transformation!
But as a Council! They also have a duty to the Disabled Drivers. No thought or Consideration Has been given to their disability!
If as they have done Pedestrianised, CONDUIT STREET. MARKET STREET. BREADMARKET ST. & BIRD STREET! That would keep every one happy!
If a disabled person wants to shop in that area of the Town Centre, They can park their vehicle in the main carpark and shop around that part of the Town without having to walk to far!!
As a Disabled Driver drives down Greenhill, Into Tamworth street! Continue into Bore Street, To which they can park their! As It Would Be A Disabled Area. They can then do what they want to do that side of Town!
I am staggered at the amount of antagonism here directed at disabled drivers. Nobody chooses to be disabled. It’s no fun, and if by using our blue badges we are able to enjoy what the rest of you take for granted, why are you so angry about it?