Anger over taxis taking over disabled bays
Taxi drivers are using disabled bays at a car park as a makeshift rank and stopping people who need the spaces from using them, it has been claimed.
Vicky Riley said she had been late for medical appointments because of the issue at New Radcliffe Street car park in Oldham.
The problem started when a rank on Dan Fold was moved to the car park for building work, the 40-year-old said.
Oldham council said it was putting in more disabled bays nearby.
'Absolute carnage'
The regeneration of the town centre meant moving the taxi rank on Dan Fold to the car park, Oldham Council said.
The council said the relocation has temporarily reduced the number of disabled bays from 27 to 20.
Ms Riley, a mum-of-two, said most people attending the Oldham’s Integrated Care Centre (ICC) use the New Radcliffe Street car park, including herself.
But she said the scene she witnessed on Tuesday was "absolute carnage".
She said: "I've never seen that before and I heard a gentleman shouting over to one of the taxi drivers 'why are you parked in a disabled bay?'
"The taxi drivers were all parked there and sat on their phones, those seven or eight spots would probably do many people within an hour appointment at the ICC."
Ms Riley, who lives in Moorside, said she was early for her appointment but ended up being 20 minutes late.
She said she was informed she would get a ticket if she parked in the bay despite displaying her blue badge.
She said: "It was carnage, cars were backed all the way up from the car park, the queue was full of disabled drivers but once you have committed, you can't turn around."
Ms Riley, who has been receiving treatment for her arthritis since the age of 21, said the ICC does have a car park but it is rare for disabled people to use it as it is located at the bottom of "a steep hill".
She said the nearby Civic Centre car park is not free and only has two disabled bays.
Oldham Council said a section of the car park off Fountain Street was agreed as a "replacement location" and is around the corner from the existing taxi rank.
The former taxi rank had to close for demolition of the Snipe Inn so an entrance to the town centre from the bus station can be created, the council confirmed.
An Oldham Council spokesman said: “To ensure we maintain as much disabled parking as possible in the area, six new disabled bays will be created directly in front of the ICC building.
"We will ensure this work is carried out as quickly as possible to reduce the impact of these changes.”
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