Disabled driver says road rules are unclear
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A DISABLED driver has hit out at Inverness parking rules after she was booked for incorrectly parking for just five minutes.
Margaret MacLeod (70) contacted the Inverness Courier after being fined when she popped in to see her cousin in the city centre’s Kenneth Street last week.
“Her son had been staying with me for a bit and after he moved out some post had arrived for him that I decided to take down to her,” she said.
“She owns the Strathallan Bead and Breakfast and I parked right outside so I could get in and out easily.
“I was only in five minutes and when I came out again the ticket was on the car and the traffic warden was halfway down the street.”
Ms MacLeod, who is originally from Skye but now stays in Cradlehall, said she thought the fact that she had a blue badge meant she had more freedom when it came to parking.
After she called the traffic warden back, however, he explained her badge didn’t apply where she had parked - in a permit holders only zone.
“He told me I could have parked on the other side of the road, which has double yellow lines, but it’s still not very clear to me what the difference is,” she said.
“It seems a bit silly to me that I can park on double yellow lines fine, but not outside my cousin’s house for even a very short time.”
A former nursing auxiliary, Margaret’s disability is the result of a road accident 20 years ago that has left her with mobility difficulties.
She moved to Inverness a decade ago and said: “I’ve been parking for all that time in the same place and never had any bother.
“It certainly wasn’t clear to me that there was any issue - it wasn’t as though I knew I was taking a chance by parking where I did.
“And if I didn’t know it you wonder how may other people are unaware too.
“I just want to make sure everyone knows that this sort of thing can happen.”
Advice on the blue badge scheme on Highland Council’s website details how the pass allows people to park in public on-street places; on single or double yellow lines at times when loading is allowed; and in some private car parks - though it also advises drivers to check car park signs and to always make sure their badge is displayed.
“Off-street car park operators should provide parking spaces for disabled people,” the advice states. “However, it is up to the car park owner to decide whether badge holders can park free of charge.
“Do not assume you can always park for free.”
Ms MacLeod paid her £30 fine immediately to avoid seeing it rise to £60 if she delayed.
Now she is backing the Inverness Courier campaign to have the council consider introducing 15 minutes of free parking in the city centre.
“As things are I can’t really use the city centre because there’s nowhere I can park that’s near enough the shops for me with my mobility problems,” she said.
“If there were places where I knew I could park for up to 15 minutes no problem and then move around the town using those spaces I definitely would.
“I think it’s something that would encourage a lot more people to come into the city centre, just knowing that it would be easy for them to get to where they need to be.”
Highland Council issues parking permits for residents, visitors and businesses in Inverness, allowing parking close to homes or businesses, though not giving holders a guaranteed space.
Residents’ and visitors’ permits cost £50 though senior citizens can get a resident’s permit for £25.
Disabled badge holders like Ms MacLeod can get a free resident’s permit, though this would not cover her for visits to elsewhere in the city.
Businesses and business visitors can get permits for £160 and all permits are valid for 12 months though charges apply for replacement of lost or damaged passes.
