Disabled woman says parking revamp reduces access

Dawn Routledge said the extra disabled parking being installed in Ashbourne was impractical for her needs

A disabled woman has said work that aims to improve parking and transport in Ashbourne town centre will make it harder for her to access the shops.

Work is being carried out to improve public spaces, roads and parking as part of the £15.9m Ashbourne Reborn project, which will also create a new community hub.

Project organisers have said the changes will make Ashbourne more attractive to visitors and four more disabled parking spaces will be created.

But Dawn Routledge, who had her leg amputated after a motorcycle crash in 1993 and can only walk short distances, has said the extra spaces are impractical because they are further away from the shops and services that she needs.

Ashbourne Market Place - where there used to be a pay and display car park

Ms Routledge said she was previously able to park right in front of the shops she used, but now new rules mean she has to park further away.

"More spaces does not mean better accessibility - that has been reduced," she said.

"I feel very frustrated and very angry. People with disabilities and mobility issues want to be independent, we don't want to have to rely on other people all the time."

A car park with between 30 and 40 spaces was in the Market Place before work started on the Ashbourne Reborn project.

But most of the parking spaces have now been removed and only two disabled places remain.

There are additional spaces on surrounding streets, which will include 10 disabled spaces - two more than before the project started - once the work is completed.

Ashbourne Community Transport wants to see a parking spot for community buses on the Market Place

Pat Laughlin, director at Ashbourne Community Transport, which provides door-to-door transport for elderly and disabled people, said she suspected her group would receive more calls due to the positioning of the disabled bays.

"I do think it is going to be a change of lifestyle for a number of people when that central parking is reduced and it is especially difficult for the people who have mobility issues," she said.

Ms Laughlin added she would be approaching Derbyshire County Council to request a parking space for one of its community buses in the Market Place and near the community hub in Church Street.

'More disabled bays'

The Ashbourne Reborn project is being run by Derbyshire Dales District Council but Derbyshire County Council is responsible for the highways work.

Cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, councillor Charlotte Hill, said: "The Ashbourne Reborn project will make a huge difference to the middle of the town for everyone who visits.

"There will be more disabled parking bays than before, although they might not be quite in the same places as before."

An Ashbourne Reborn spokesperson added: "The additional provision [of disabled parking] should also help avoid historic problems of parking impeding traffic flow, causing safety issues and damage to footways, for example from vehicles mounting the kerb to avoid obstructions.

"In the past, Blue Badge holders have parked outside shops on Dig Street and St John Street, interrupting the flow of traffic through the town centre.

"We are now asking all drivers, including Blue Badge holders and delivery drivers, to use the bays provided.

"We've also received positive feedback about how the improvements so far have made it easier for disabled people to navigate the town, including through wider, smoother pavements."