Disabled parking is misused everywhere

SIR, — I was most interested to read the story in last week’s edition about people flouting parking restrictions at the Downe Hospital.

It is despicable that able-bodied people are parking in dedicated disabled bays at the hospital and are also leaving their cars in a off zone which is designed to allow relatives to drop off elderly people or those who are infirm to attend the Downe for appointments.

But the problem of people flouting parking restrictions is not confined to Downe Hospital. Disabled bays are being abused across Downpatrick.

One area which concerns me is the Scotch Street car park in the town. People using this facility at night over the weekend park in disabled bays to make their way to hot food establishments and this isn’t on.

These drivers seem to think that because traffic wardens have gone home that it’s okay to park in disabled bays. It isn’t.

Last weekend I spotted a teenage girl park her car in the disabled bay to make her way the short distance to a Chinese restaurant. She had no thought or care for any disabled river who may have been wishing to use the space she commandeered.

I have watched other able-bodied people, obviously too lazy to walk a few yards to hot food bars in the area, park in the disabled spaces at the Scotch Street car park on a regular basis.

These people should think again. They obviously feel that you can use these spaces after 5pm.

They are wrong and I hope they will examine their respective consciences and think twice about taking up disabled spots in future. It’s time they started thinking of others, not themselves.

Yours etc.,

LAW ABIDING DRIVER,

Downpatrick.