People wanting to sign a petition to oppose the removal of on-street blue badge parking in Lichfield city centre are being reminded that time is running out to do so.
So far the online version of the petition has been signed by nearly 600 people, with paper versions available in shops including The Bore Street Dental Practice, Michael’s Menswear, A-Plan Insurance and Specsavers.
The on-street bays are being taken out as part of an 18 month trial of pedestrianising roads through the city which was due to begin at the start of the year, but the full implementation has now been delayed until 23rd March.
Deborah Litherland-Smith, who launched the petition, said that businesses are already feeling the impact of the restrictions.
“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 or access and would otherwise be unable to attend.
“The podiatry clinic, which has been operational for almost 40 years looks after a large number of patients who will be unable to attend following this move. A hearing centre is set to relocate to an alternate town as a direct result of this move.”
Deborah Litherland-Smith
Disability rights campaigner Suzanna Neill has previously described the struggle of accessing and parking in Lichfield if you are disabled. She said:
“We are not being listened to and that is the frustrating part and people are getting very frustrated.”
Suzanna Neill
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
Anyone wishing to sign the petition online can do so here
Yes we have a beautiful city and yes to clean air. However we must balance the latter against the obvious and common sense of providing parking for those with accessibility needs
Just wondered which of the two hearing centers is relocating, does anyone know?
Well said Andrew, we need a common sense approach that limits traffic through the city centre but provides access to those who need it due to mobility issues. Not rocket science, is it?
Is there a petition to sign for agreement for the removal of the spaces?
Consider the safety aspect of having less / no cars in the centre.
Surely, that would be democratic.
Wait for the Blue Badge Brigade replies !!! It’s fine saying 600 have signed against the traffic ban, but you’re forgetting the rest of Lichfield who want a safe and pleasant traffic free city centre? Or do we no longer live in a democracy?…
Where is the data that businesses are already suffering when it hasn’t even been enforced? There are plenty of spaces in multiple car parks and other streets in close vicinity.
Tamworth was pedestrianised and still has shops.
I have a Blue Badge, and like nothing more than calling on to places like the coffee shops Bore Street
Currently I can’t do that due to this mad idea.
I understand there will be access until midday every day so drop off and pickup would work? Also figures quoted would indicate 15% of patients are disabled and immobile? I welcome open debate but keep it accurate please
We do need to think about disability drivers but the blue badge holders tend to cheat not all of course pedestrians can help too
There’s little evidence that pedestrianisation has made Walsall or Sutton Coldfield more prosperous. Both have lost their big stores (Marks, Debenhams, etc.). There’s no reason to suppose that full pedestrianisation will benefit Lichfield, but there is clear evidence that the businesses currently in the centre do not want it. Most traffic is already prevented from going through the centre (or should be if the current restrictions are enforced), but excluding disabled drivers seems unwarrented. An 18 month trial will cause damage to businesses and the welcoming nature of Lichfield that may not be reversible.
Blue Badge holders conveniently forget that they will still be able to park in the city centre until 12:00, as suggested by Alan.
The rest of us can happily enjoy the streets of Lichfield with reduced pollution and without any of the H&S risks caused by cars in the afternoon.
Seems like a win-win situation.
It feels very odd to have cars ploughing through a pedestrian area around Market Square and Bore St, yet returning the area to being a car-priority area would be a retrograde step.
It definitely feels safer in places like Tamworth, Rugeley, Aldridge etc where cars and pedestrians aren’t in conflict.
There would probably be less resistance to vehicles in Lichfield centre if they were limited to 5mph or less – unfortunately many drivers (and not all of them young) drive through at totally unrealistic speeds.
I just take my numberplate off before entering the pedestrianised part. Its held on with Velcro. If I get stopped by the Police I tell them someone from Walsall nicked it.
Have we the technology to set a barrier and scan blue badge holders and reject all others and set a time limit on delivery vehicles
I am glad the debate has opened up but quite shocked that there is oposition to those with accessibility needs. How can they get to the dentist in bore st. Howev
Er i note that access is ok till midday and wadn t aware of that. That is good. Can it be confirmed?
It’s already hard enough for disabled and elderly to visit the banks and specsavers, thanks to this. Removing the spaces in bore street is just being malicious now.
And it’s all because some people can’t be bothered to look both ways when crossing the road? Ridiculous.
Lets cut the talk, Lichfield is either pedestrian safe or pedestrian vulnerable, anybody can see that allowing a large group who have impaired mobility to the supposedly access the areas would be utter folly and make the scheme look ridiculous.
While the scheme is being installed, lets make sure that apart from emergency vehicles, all those who need access have visible permission to make this allowable.
People or companies who ignore the requirements should suffer the consequences.
Hopefully the 18 month trial will see Cllr Doug Pullen out of his position
If someone is unable to walk a few yards, should they really be allowed to be in charge of a moving motor vehicle? How would they change the wheel if they got a flat tyre? How do they fill up with fuel?
Here we go again…The discrimination brigade are on to those of us with limited or no mobility…Ok, we have been told that we can park, until 12 midday in Bore Street…. WOW….aren’t we honoured.. have we been good and behaved well?….but what if we would enjoy staying for lunch somewhere? Oh yes, of course, silly me, we shall have to have lunch at 11 am….but what if a visit to the dentist, or the hearing aid centre, or the podiatrist is needed and there are no appointments before 12 noon???..I again say as I’ve said previously…our limbs may not work well but, we are not aliens…believe it or not we are human!!!
Trev one doesn’t need to look both ways it is a pedestrian zone, pedestrians have right of way
Mike…..regarding your comment ‘ you don’t need to look both ways as it’s a pedestrian zone, pedestrians have right of way’…from experience and observation i have witnessed many cyclists speed through Lichfield, travelling in the wrong direction, in the pedestrian area outside Nero’s cafe.
This has been done in Stone and now there are no shops in the main street apart from charity shops and coffee places.lt’s killed the town centre.
Tom you walked around Lichfield, mainly charity shops,pubs and cafes
As a disabled person I used to park on Bore street now this option is denied to me I am finally finding the alternatives too far to walk.
Town centres don’t suffer because disabled parking has been moved by 3 minutes walk. Stop complaining about change that benifits everyones health and safety. Its been done before where a disabled driver has accidantly nearly run down a pedestrian in the town centre. So instead of complaining, why dont you just use the carpark on Frog Lane which has closer walk into the precinct. You manage to get around town and the shops so why can’t you do it from this car park? Just complaining because of change.