Bid to move disabled carpark spaces ‘appalling’

A disability access group has said it is “appalled” at plans to relocate disabled parking spaces further away from Cork’s main civic building.

The Cork Access Group said it would make life even more difficult for people with disabilities trying to access City Hall to apply for grants or to attend civic functions.

“We are absolutely furious about this proposal,” said Donie O’Leary, secretary of the group, an umbrella body for several disability groups in the city.

“This is a retrograde step. We shouldn’t have to battle at this stage.

“It will exclude those living on the margins of society even more. It needs to be challenged and we will win this battle.”

Mr O’Leary last night called on the city manager Tim Lucey to intervene and order the reinstatement of the spaces directly outside City Hall.

Four disabled parking spaces were removed from Anglesea St to make way for the construction of a cycle lane.

Mr O’Leary said the Cork Access Group got a commitment from engineers when the cycle lane was being designed that the disabled spaces would be reinstated.

However, after questioning from Cllr Michael O’Connell (Lab) last week, Mr Lucey said engineering difficulties prevented the reinstatement of the spaces.

“Access to the disabled parking spaces on Anglesea St is proving to be very problematic,” he said.

“The provision of ramps from the road onto the footpath was ruled out for various reasons, including the potential risk of creating a trip hazard and the difficulty of dealing with the impact on the new cycleway and footpath.”

He said a preferred solution was to provide new disabled parking spaces in the “quieter areas” of Union Quay and Copley St to replace the undersized ones on Anglesea St.

“The spaces would be located as close as possible to Anglesea St and the provision of step-downs or drop kerbs will be much more possible there.”

However, Mr O’Leary said the council should have honoured its commitment to reinstate the parking spaces on Anglesea St.

“To promote cycling is good but not at the expense of, or to the detriment of, people living on the fringes of society,” he said.

“The city council should be leading the way in terms of disability access.”

He said the Cork Access Group had fostered good working relationships with the city council over the years but described the proposal to relocate the parking spaces further away from the offices as a “setback”.