Disabled parking bays removed from Oldham town centre

There are concerns those with a blue disabled badge could struggle to find somewhere to park in the town centre this summer in a move residents have called "discrimination".

Two car parks surrounding the Integrated Care Centre on New Radcliffe Street have removed several disabled car parking bays in a move the council says is 'temporary'.

The Civic Centre has cut two disabled spaces as the stand-in Coliseum, called 'the Roundabout', is currently under construction to open this Saturday (April 27).

The Civic Centre car park is removing some disabled bays to make way for the pop-up theatre (Image: Newsquest, Joe Yates)

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Set to occupy the car park until July this year, the 167-seat pop-up theatre presents a total loss of 35 parking spaces from the Civic Centre, including two electric vehicle charging bays and two disabled spots.

Meanwhile, another car park around the corner, just off Fountain Street and directly opposite the Integrated Care Centre building, has also taken away a further seven disabled parking bays to make way for a taxi rank.

Concerned residents, Janet Heap and Bill Heap, said they feared the initiative amounted to "discrimination against disabled folks".

A photograph of the car park shows seven of the disabled parking bays have been painted over with new yellow lines while a notice in yellow reads: 'Taxis only'. 

Disabled bays have been removed for a taxi rank opposite the Integrated Care Centre (Image: I Love Shaw)

Oldham Council said the removal of the bays comes as part of the regeneration plans, including the demolition of The Snipe Inn pub on Henshaw Street, which meant the taxi rank on Dan Fold needed to be relocated.

The Council said in response to the backlash that six new disabled bays will be created directly in front of the ICC building. 

However, Oldhamers say they have already faced enormous difficulty finding places to park, even before the loss of spaces, as one resident said the car park was "rammed" when taking their 85-year-old disabled parent to an appointment at the medical centre last Thursday (April 18).

Kathryn Guy, who regularly attends medical appointments at the ICC also voiced her frustration to The Oldham Times, saying: "I have had to cancel appointments due to lack of parking and long waits to park on the disabled car park where they have marked taxi bays.

"The council contacted me after I objected and said they were committing disability discrimination.

"They did come back to me within two hours to propose that they mark out disabled bays outside the doors of the ICC, but this is a drop-off point for ambulances and visitors to the medical facility.

"It is on a hill and on a bend and would force ambulance staff to unload patients further down the hill.

"Tax drivers have been given priority and adjustments at the expense of disabled rights."

She added: "The council have put able-bodied taxi drivers before the needs of disabled people, committing disability discrimination.

"I have an MP looking into this and disability agencies. I have also contacted the law centre.

"It's disgusting. The council will have put disabled needs to one side in order to make revenue from a pop-up theatre and taxi bays whilst discriminating against the disabled accessing vital services."

Taking to social media, Leslie Jagger also said he went to use the car park on Saturday (April 20) but saw it had been "taken over by the taxis because the Snipe is being demolished".

He added: "I was informed if you park where the taxis are, you will get a ticket, even if showing a blue badge.

"Again, Oldham Council have excelled themselves as this is the only disabled car park in Oldham and is used by many. 

"Why can't the taxis park somewhere else? Absolutely ridiculous."

Reacting to the news, Lisa Parry, added: "It's a disgrace. Why should taxis get preference over those less able?"

Meanwhile, Scott Cooper wrote: "That's bad. Just painting over the disabled logos like it doesn't even matter."

In response, a spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “Due to the ongoing regeneration of the town centre, we’ve had to relocate the taxi rank on Dan Fold.

“Following discussions, a section of the car park off Fountain Street was agreed as a replacement location.

"This is just around the corner from the existing rank, which we’ve had to close so we can demolish the former Snipe Inn to create a new, better entrance to the town centre from the bus station.

“This relocation has temporarily reduced the number of disabled bays on the car park from 27 to 20.

“To ensure we maintain as much disabled parking as possible in the area, six new disabled bays will be created directly in front of the ICC building.

“We will ensure this work is carried out as quickly as possible to reduce the impact of these changes.”

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.