Conservatives have condemned the council for installing dangerous disabled bays along the A259 as part of the so called Covid response plan.

Conservative Transport Spokesperson, Cllr. Lee Wares said:

“The council and the Administration can crow all day long about their commitment to providing disabled parking bays for Blue Badge holders but the reality of what is being done displays their total lack of respect and regard for our most vulnerable and less abled.”

“In their haste to spend money so that they don’t endanger the bid for more cash to extend the cycle lane to Southwick, they are endangering lives with this ridiculous design.  Regardless of what checks the council says it has done, it hasn’t consulted with or sought the views and opinions of those that matter and know best - the Blue Badge holders themselves or the carers or parents.”

Yet again, just like the discriminatory behaviour of the Administration towards Blue Badge holders on Madeira Drive, they have to play second fiddle to those that can walk or cycle.

“How on earth does the Administration think Blue Badge holders are going to cope getting in and out of their vehicles when traffic and cycles are speeding by on both sides. What possesses anybody to think that the place to stand, sit or be helped whilst they prepare to get in or out of vehicles is in the middle of the cycle lane where there are no warnings; presuming of course they are not supposed to stand in the middle of the road.”

“Provision for Blue Badge holders has been diabolically poor for years and with all these changes across the city and on the A259, the Administration could have at least tried to make the situation no worse. However, this is an example where not only is this dangerous it will also be off-putting.

So our Blue Badge holders have a been given a new choice by the council; risk using dangerous disabled parking bays or don’t come down to the seafront.

“We know the Administration is hell bent on removing cars from the city but we didn’t expect them to marginalise Blue Badge holders as well. Our plea to the council is please stop and think about what you are doing, please speak urgently with the groups that you are ignoring. No more meaningless words or ill-informed desk-top studies, listen to what you are told by the very people you are impacting and act on it.”

ENDS.