An Aberdeen woman says she feels like a prisoner in her home due to non-blue badge holders parking in her allocated disabled parking space.
Jennifer Petrie has a progressive condition which means she cannot stand for a long time and often has to use a wheelchair.
She had to fight for the space to be allocated on her street six-years-ago but is now scared to move her car in case someone else parks there while she is out.
The last few weeks have been “utter hell” for the 44-year-old who has felt forced to cancel medical appointments and stay at home so she is not left stranded miles away.
‘Nobody will help’
Miss Petrie said: “Living with a disability is hard enough without this additional stress. I try to live as normal a life as possible, but sometimes I can’t leave the house. I’m in tears every day over this.
“I do sometimes walk to places, like the post office, but I can’t stand for long periods of time. My mum has had to travel from Edzell in the past to help me get home.
“I mainly use the car to go to appointments and to get supplies, but right now I’m not moving it and don’t intend to. I could go away for half an hour and come back to someone else, without a badge, parked in the space.
“I’ve been waiting for surgery to create a new hip socket for over two years and am in a lot of pain. I don’t think people realise how much I rely on that space and how painful it is to move my car.
“It feels like nobody will help. It’s hopeless.”
Petitioning for change
Miss Petrie understands that other blue badge holders can use the space outside her home, but those who have been parking there lately do not have a badge on display – and it is not the same car every time.
Parking in a disabled space without a blue badge is not a criminal offence, but city wardens can issue a fine if they find a car without a valid badge.
As parking in a disabled space without a badge is not a criminal offence, there are no legal consequences.
It also causes “stress and discomfort” for Miss Petrie and all other disabled drivers who rely on those spaces being available when they need them.
The analyst has launched an online petition which aims to criminalise non-badge holders parking in disabled spaces.
She would also like to spread awareness so people will think twice before parking in a disabled bay or too close to one.
On the petition she wrote: “This is a lifeline for disabled drivers and causes unbelievable pain, discomfort, struggles with wheelchairs, anxiety and I personally feel like a prisoner in my own home.
“I’m unable to move my Motability car to hospital appointments or even work.
“The council could criminalise so that the disabled have someone to ask for help, to deter non-blue badge holders from parking in disabled bays.
“The council can also re-paint the white lines so that they are clearly marked or even provide cones to put down temporarily.”
A stressful process
Miss Petrie has applied to the council to get the space outside her home re-painted but the application process has proved difficult due to challenges accessing the correct forms, the need for equipment to scan documents and complications regarding her mobility car.
She hopes that making the disabled space more obvious will deter non-badge holders from parking there.
However, the sign in place that clearly states the space is for “Disabled badge holders only” is frequently ignored.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “When a bay marking is faded, we require an application to be made so that we can ensure that the bay is still required and our records are up to date.
“An application for this space was made last week and an instruction has been issued for the works to be carried out however these are dependent on backlog, location, priority, and weather conditions.
“The City Wardens have added a flag to their system for passing surveillance however they cannot act as a response service.”
Due to the backlog of work needing done on Aberdeen City Council roads, Miss Petrie has not been given a date for the re-painting to be completed.
She does not feel comfortable moving her car until this has been done.
Not a criminal offence
Miss Petrie has also been in contact with the police about non-badge holders using the space but was told to contact the council as it is not a criminal offence.
She said she had also been advised by police to park in a safe space as close to her home as possible if the disabled space is unavailable and to then call 101 for assistance to get to the building.
This could leave her stuck in her car miles away from home for long periods of time.
A police spokeswoman said: “On Tuesday, November 2, officers received a report of someone parking within a disabled parking space in Aberdeen.
“Advice and guidance was provided and the reporter was referred to the council.”