Local Barry resident Sophie Woodham recently contacted Alun Cairns MP to express her concerns about a rejection received to granting a disabled parking bay outside her home.
Miss Woodham is confined to a wheelchair and finds accessing her car impossible, which she enters through the boot. The height between the drive and the boot makes reaching the vehicle from the wheelchair impossible. The wheelchair also needs to be lifted into the boot after Miss Woodham enters.
The local MP went to see for himself the issue and is giving his full support. He said that the current situation is impossible and needs addressing. Alun said that the initial attitude from the Vale Council was wholly unacceptable suggesting that it was a standard letter to a general query, rather than looking at the strength of the case.
Mr Cairns said:
“Sophie received a refusal letter without having applied for the bay. It clearly doesn’t understand the position. Until you see the property and the different heights, it is impossible to for a fair judgement. Only when you visit the property can you see the difficulty that Sophie faces.
“The gradient from the road to the driveway is such that Sophie has difficulty placing her wheel chair in a safe position for her to get in and out of her car.
“I have written to the Authority to highlight my concerns and express my surprise that a refusal was given without a site visit or even consideration of the case in more detail.”