Man's misery as car parked in disabled bay for five days

Ken Edwards, 63, was unable to park outside his home for five days because another vehicle was in his space. Picture: Derek Martin

On Wednesday 15, Ken Edwards, from Woodlands Road, Littlehampton, returned home after taking his wife Angela to Worthing Hospital to find a car was in the disabled parking bay outside his house.

The vehicle did not have a blue badge, and was parked there for five days before moving on Sunday 26.

Mr Edwards said he tried to get the car moved – but discovered that the type of space he has is not legally enforceable.

“That is the whole reason why a person goes down the route of getting a blue badge and a parking bay.

“It is to try and make your life just that little bit easier.”

Mr Edwards has severe muscle wastage in his right leg after contracting polio at 18-months-old, which makes walking more difficult.

He said he was ‘annoyed’ by the driver’s actions, as it meant he had to park further away from his home.

“It isn’t just the walking, it is the trip hazard because of the way I walk.

“It becomes a bit of a nightmare,” he said.

“Most of the people in the street are pretty respectful of the bay, but you do get the odd person who seems to think it’s nothing to do with them.”

The 63-year-old engineering quality inspector said the space was more important than ever for the family, as Angela, who suffers from fibromyalgia, had recently broken her arm.

Arun District Council said: “In order for a disabled bay to be enforceable under Civil Parking Enforcement it has to be backed by a Traffic Regulation Order.

“There is no Traffic Regulation Order covering this particular disabled space, which is why Arun District Council cannot enforce.”

They said the highways department of the West Sussex County Council would be responsible.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “The bay described by Mr Edwards is of a discretionary nature and reliant on the goodwill of neighbours.

“These bays have no legal standing, and cannot be enforced by either the Police or the Civil Parking Enforcement officers.

“Enforcement can only be carried out if the bay is formalised through a Traffic Regulation Order.

“We have advised him of the process required to progress an application.”

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