15 July 2026
I am concerned that this application severely reduces the number of disabled parking places available and takes them a lot further away from the principal destination for the majority of current users. I am a blue badge holder and have limited mobility that makes it difficult for me to carry or push heavy shopping any distance. I regularly use the shops in Spring Gardens and in particular the supermarket and it is very common for there to be no disabled parking places available (or indeed general parking places in suitable places close to the supermarket) for much of the day. The proposal to provide these places near the entrance of he multi-storey car park is both much further from where disabled users can currently park and if parking spaces are not available immediately there is nowhere to wait until one becomes available without blocking access for other car parking users. I am very aware that while I have difficulties with heavy shopping there are many other customers who have significantly more difficulty than myself. Arguments that we should use home deliveries are not appropriate and contravene equality and diversity legislation by reducing access to a designated group. Has a full Equality and Diversity Assessment been conducted, and if so where is it published? I would submit that this proposal cannot be considered until one is available as part of the documentation.