The Irish Wheelchair Association is urging Leitrim County Council to reconsider painting disabled parking spaces blue in Carrick-on-Shannon following the completion of streetscape works.
The local authority has confirmed that it is not their intention at present to paint the designated disabled parking bays blue on newly paved areas but has committed to keeping the issue under review.
The February meeting of the Carrick-on-Shannon M.D heard that the town's parking wardens will be resuming activities in the town in the coming weeks, and the Council will also erect appropriate signage to mark the designated spaces.
However, the IWA believe it is vital that the spaces are marked blue so members of the public can distinctly identify disabled parking bays to avoid 'accidental misuse of the spaces.'
Joan Carthy, the Irish Wheelchair Association's Advocacy manager, believes painting the spaces blue won't harm the visual appeal of the new streetscape:
"There is no reason why the whole space can't be painted blue, with the white symbol. It is the symbol that everybody understands worldwide in relation to what it means and what it stands for."
"So I think we need to come away from one person thinking aesthetically that it doesn't or does look good, it's something that actually is needed and works well for people with disabilities."
Leitrim County Council issued the following statement to Shannonside FM :
Prior to the start of the public realm works in Carrick-on-Shannon, the disabled spaces were previously painted blue. Since the public realm works have been completed, streets signage has been erected to identify the disabled parking bays.
At this stage, it is not the intention of the Local Authority to paint the disabled parking spaces blue on the newly paved areas in Carrick on Shannon.
Leitrim County Council are aware of the concerns of the disabled parking bay users; the situation will be kept under review, and we will take appropriate action, as necessary, to ensure these spaces are available for the use of disabled parking permit holders.
You can hear the full interview with Joan here:
