16-year wait for a space

PARKING nightmare . . . Violet Smith

A POORLY pensioner says she has spent 16 years trying to get a disabled parking space outside her home — but Oldham Council can’t afford the paint.

Violet Smith suffers from arthritis and osteoarthritis and struggles to get her shopping home if she can’t park near her house.

There is often no space on busy Knowl Lane, Hollinwood so the 77-year-old has to park elsewhere and wait for a good Samaritan to help her carry the shopping in.

But despite around 50 requests, since 1993, to the council to have a disabled parking space painted outside her house she has repeatedly been told there are not enough funds.

After recently contacting the council she discovered the record of her first application had been altered to 2003 — losing her 10 years in her continuous applications.

Mrs Smith, who has suffered falls that have injured her legs while struggling back to her house, even wrote to former Prime Minister Tony Blair at one stage. But his staff passed on her letter to the Department for Communities and Local Government who said they could not get involved in individual cases.

Mrs Smith, whose husband Donald died two years ago, said: “I have sent so many letters requesting it and they always say they have not got any money. I’ve lost count of the applications, it’s been about three a year.

“I’m very bad on my feet. Where I am it’s also where they park for the doctors across the road.

“I can hardly get out of the house to do any shopping, as when I come back home there is nearly always someone parked right in front of my home, and if I have to park further down the street or across the road I have to wait until some kind person can assist me.

“If I do have to go out I’m worried all the time that I won’t be able to park outside my home when I get back. My condition has deteriorated since my husband died but even this explanation has just resulted in me being told that there is no money to paint a few lines for me. I wonder just what our councillors do with it all.

“I think it’s disgusting when I see what’s being done for other things. I think they can afford to do this simple job. I would buy the paint myself if they would just do the job.”

Tony Noblet, Oldham Council’s Service Director for Highways and Operational Services, said: “We are aware of the application by Ms Smith for a parking space and are currently looking to source available funding for the bay as soon as possible.”

In its last correspondence with Mrs Smith, traffic manager Steve Palk said the council’s Task and Finish Group had been deliberating over disabled persons parking and residents parking schemes.

He said the group made clear that highway maintenance money should not be used to fund such facilities and no alternative money has been found. The council can assess requests but has no money to make the necessary traffic regulation orders and provide signs and road markings.

He said Mrs Smith’s request was on hold, adding: “Although efforts are being made to seek funding it is apparent that this is unlikely to be a short term process because of the general funding crisis that the council finds itself in.”