Keep your car on the road

The message is clear.  “Keep your car on the road.”   Wheelchair users and other members of the Driffield & District Access Group want this message relayed to all those who are obstructing the footpaths and forcing pedestrians and wheelchairs into the traffic.

 

Cllr Felicity Temple of the East Riding Council met with the group to listen to their problems.   She said, “Many able-bodied people do not understand the difficulties facing wheelchair users.   These difficulties are made worse when motorists park their cars on the footpath, thinking they are helping the flow of traffic.  In fact they are putting young mothers with pushchairs, the disabled in wheelchairs and many of our elderly with their motorised scooters into real danger by forcing them into the road.”

 

Access Group members also highlighted instances of able-bodied people parking in designated disabled bays.  This is not only “not fair”, but is also illegal. Humberside Police have called in traffic wardens from other areas in the East Riding to patrol Driffield to enforce the law on parking.  This was welcomed by Cllr Jonathan Owen who said, “I am glad to see some positive action and hope to see some improvement in the situation shortly.”

 

Cllr Symon Fraser commented, “We can only do something about problems, if we know about them so we always welcome information from residents us if they see a pothole in their street or anything else the East Riding can help with.  We have proved over and over that by tackling issues positively we can get something done, but we must be told where these problems are.”

 

Cllr Temple added “It’s great that the Access Group contacted us. I have arranged a meeting with the ERYC Parish Liaison Officer so that the Access Group can explain the problems they encounter every day, we will then be able to draw up an action plan to improve the situation.”

 

This news article was first released to the press in March 2003but still has relevance today in 2005