Clamp drivers who use disabled spaces

Apr 10 2008

A HAMILTON resident this week hit out at able-bodied drivers who park in spaces set aside for disabled motorists.

Alastair MacGregor, from Silvertonhill, wrote to the Advertiser about a practice that “absolutely sickens him”.

Mr MacGregor said he saw frequent examples of the unthinking behaviour at Esporta health club in the Palace Grounds.

He said: “Every time I visit, I see one or more vehicles — usually large expensive ones — parked in disabled spaces by non-disabled members.

“There is generally an abundance of large expensive vehicles, as opposed to small cars, in the disabled spaces at Esporta.

“There seems to be a direct correlation between the size of the vehicle and the intensity of the owner’s contempt for the rights of the disabled.”

He said he had found the management at Esporta unwilling to tackle the problem, and added: “This sent a crystal-clear signal to these people — they might as well erect signs at every disabled space stating: ‘Reserved for the use of non-disabled members with big cars; disabled members kindly push off’.

“I have a friend with multiple sclerosis. If some of these people who park within the disabled spaces at Esporta and elsewhere would like to swap places for a week with my friend, maybe at the end of the week they might be a little more sensitive and appreciative of the needs and rights of people with a disability and a little less inclined to continue to park in disabled spaces.”

Mr MacGregor, who is retired, urged councils to crack down on people who are abusing disabled parking bays.

They should adopt a “zero tolerance” approach which would see authorities being allowed to clamp and impose financial penalties on offenders.

He said he thought the only way to curb the practice would be to install lockable metal posts within each disabled space, such as has been done in Castle Street, Hamilton. The posts can be locked in an upright position when the space is not being used.

A spokesman for Esporta said they had eight disabled parking bays at their Hamilton premises.

He said the bays were regularly monitored, and added: “We are very surprised by this claim because any non-disabled members seen parking in the disabled bays are asked to move.”