PAVEMENT parking in Warwick is forcing disabled residents to play ‘Russian roulette’ when they leave their homes.
So says John Carroll who is campaigning for parking restrictions in the St John’s area where drivers continually obstruct pavements.
The 63-year-old, who lives in Weston Close, said most residents in the area were elderly, and many disabled, and needed buggies or wheelchairs.
He said: “There’s no regard for people with disability.
“It’s forcing us to step out into the road and it’s like a game of Russian roulette because you can’t see what might be coming on the road which is reduced to a single lane.
“I have a heart condition and definitely wouldn’t be able to jump out the way of a car.
“It also means a lack of spaces for carers who have to drive around to find parking which cuts precious time with residents.”
Mr Carroll claimed around 60 cars could be parked on pavements at any one time during weekends.
He has urged Warwickshire County Council to introduce restricted parking measures but has so far been met with refusal.
But a county council spokesperson said the authority had assessed the situation and there were no plans to install further parking restrictions.
Warwick District Council has however confirmed it would review the situation.
Last Autumn the district council made some changes to ‘residents only’ signs in the area following a consultation. The county council also added some additional parking spaces for visitors.
Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western is supporting residents.
He said: “There are parking issues – pavements, and dropped kerbs blocked so that wheelchair users and those with walkers cannot get past, carers spending a good proportion of their allotted call on older or disabled people finding somewhere to park and sightlines obscured making pulling out highly dangerous.
“Respondents want more done, and I will be taking up these issues again with the local authorities, and will be having a meeting with residents and police about enforcement of the existing road traffic orders.”
