1 week Ago By [email protected] (Kali Lindsay)
An elderly man has hit out at a council after being denied a disabled parking spot outside his Northumberland home. Blue Badge holder Malcolm Ridley, 78, suffered a stroke two years ago that has left him struggling to walk. Mr Ridley, of Hallington Drive, Seaton Delaval, lives with his son and relies on him to drive him places.
Mr Ridley says Northumberland County Council put parking bays into the gardens of properties on the street to help ease parking but due to his property being on the corner they were unable to do this to his home. Instead, the council installed three bays outside his home but Mr Ridley says that due to the number of cars on the street, his son is left unable to park next to the house - meaning Mr Ridley is forced to walk to the car. Mr Ridley, who has lived at the property for around 56 years, says he has asked the council on numerous occasions for a designated disabled bay in one of the spots near his home.
Keep up to date with all the latest local news from Northumberland with our free newsletter He added: "We have three parking spaces at our door and everyone else has their own parking place in their gardens. We can't get one in our garden because it comes over a drain. "My son can't get in the spaces.
My son drives me where I want to go as I cannot walk too far, and takes me shopping. "The council just keeps knocking me back all the time and I have been told by policemen that you can get a parking space but they won't. "My son lives with me and I have a Blue Badge.
I had two strokes and I can't do anything here. I can walk so far, but that's about it. My son does all my cleaning and everything else.
I would like the council to put a parking space in one for me, if possible. "It would be absolutely brilliant if they installed a space." A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: “We continue to support our residents with accessibility requirements wherever possible.
“Applications for disabled parking bays in residential areas are carefully assessed against specific eligibility criteria, such as benefit entitlement and lack of off-street parking. Each application also includes consulting with residents, ensuring a fair balance of need, safety, and practical considerations. “We have looked very carefully at the application for Hallington Drive but unfortunately this did not satisfy the eligibility criteria.
However, we understand how important accessible parking is and remain committed to supporting residents with mobility challenges in every way we can. "The applicant can appeal this decision and the case will then be reviewed independently." Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community for all the latest news Northumberland news direct to your phone.
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