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[quote]Before the Eden complex threw open its doors, blue badge holders were able to park for free in its adjoining carpark.[/quote]So before the complex opened disabled people could park for free but once the complex opened....[quote]But this is no longer the case and the disabled community were angered by the change[/quote]The misers have ensured that even disabled people have to pay to park if they want to visit the complex. How friendly is that? The decision to charge disabled people to park at the complex can only push Wycombe backwards and will lead to alienation of sections of the community. What sort of message is it sending out?

For once Ivor you have my vote. Having a disabled child, parking in Wycombe is worse now than it ever was before. Even using the bus with someone in a wheelchair is not easy, as the 'space' allowed for your chair is usually taken up by a parent with a pushchair (who are perfectly entitled to use the bus too!) and this then means that the aisle is blocked by pushchairs and wheelchairs. Of course, back in the day when my children were in pushchairs, i used to take them out, fold up the pusher and place it in the rack provided - obviously todays young mums cant be bothered to do that! However, WDC need to look at how disabled are accessing not only EDEN but the rest of the town, the hospital is a nightmare to park for those of you that can park in any size space you need, add the fact that you are in a wheelchair and need a bigger space and you will find that there are approximately 6 of them at wycombe. I think what is happening here is that those that are disabled are being pushed out of wycombe, very sneakily too.

I don't think it is right for disabled people to have free parking, there are many people from many walks of life with different problems and lack of money, why should anyone be singled out for freebies? Nobody is more worthy than another. I do feel strongly though that there should be plenty of disabled parking spaces as close as possible to the entrance of the shopping centre to make it easier for disabled people to get from the shops to their cars.

[quote][bold]slacker[/bold] wrote: I don't think it is right for disabled people to have free parking, there are many people from many walks of life with different problems and lack of money, why should anyone be singled out for freebies? Nobody is more worthy than another. I do feel strongly though that there should be plenty of disabled parking spaces as close as possible to the entrance of the shopping centre to make it easier for disabled people to get from the shops to their cars.[/quote] But surely the other people with a lack of money are able to use alternative means of transport (bus, train etc...) far easier or are able to walk. I don't think it's fair to say the disabled are more worthy of freebies, they're just entitled to facilities that allow them to access to as many things as possible that the able bodied take for granted. The reason for offering free parking is they will have little choice,but to drive whereas you or i can choose how we travel there and could park for free further out if we wished.

I have little choice too. I cannot drive for medical reasons but that does not mean I can get a free bus pass, I have to pay like everybody else.

Slacker - I don't know what your medical problem is (and i wouldn't expect you to discuss it on a public forum), but there may be some form of assistance available for you( financial or otherwise). If there is not then perhaps there should be and i would suggest you champion this cause rather then suggest others who have a genuine need have their assistance taken away.

[quote][bold]slacker[/bold] wrote: I don't think it is right for disabled people to have free parking, there are many people from many walks of life with different problems and lack of money, why should anyone be singled out for freebies? Nobody is more worthy than another. I do feel strongly though that there should be plenty of disabled parking spaces as close as possible to the entrance of the shopping centre to make it easier for disabled people to get from the shops to their cars.[/quote] slacker; I hardly think "lack of money" is a cause for free parking. Surely if you have no money: a) you could save money by not owning a car and b) if you have no money why would you want to park in an expensive carpark and spend money you don't have?

Hi, I am not suggesting disabled people have things taken away just because I cannot get freebies. I just think some things need not be free just because somebody has a disability. Take two people - both are working in full time employment and earn the same yet one happens to be in a wheelchair. How is it fair that s/he is allowed free parking when the other person is not despite them earning the same and both being hard workers?

Hi, I am not suggesting disabled people have things taken away just because I cannot get freebies. I just think some things need not be free just because somebody has a disability. Take two people - both are working in full time employment and earn the same yet one happens to be in a wheelchair. How is it fair that s/he is allowed free parking when the other person is not despite them earning the same and both being hard workers?

I am not suggesting someone should lose amenities just because I do not get them, I am happy to pay for the bus. Say you have two employees, both work full time, both earn the same yet one is in a wheelchair. How is it fair that one of those people should get free parking and the other not? (posted twice, first time did not take)

sorry about the multiple posts, the BFP site is acting up

I am reading these comments with mixed feelings - slacker, whilst I can hear your resentment I cannot say that I agree with it people with disabilities are heavily means tested and often paying high costs for the privilage of getting up in the morning, being washed, fed toileted (care costs) care that someone who is non disabled would not be charged for! in resepect of means testing relating to care and disability costs unearned income is means tested - whilst unlimited earnings are not. a single person on income support with a sever disability could pay as much as £83.00 per week for care, whereas a married person with a disabillty as long as they have savings under £11,000. neither their or their partners earnings are taken into account and they could be asked to pay only about £37.00 per week disabled people under 60 are unable to get any help with high fuel bills, those that are unable move around get very very cold, whilst everyone over 60 irrespective of disability or not, even those with very high incomes and homes abroad in the winter - still get help with heating , whilst those severely disabled whether they be child or adult - receive no help whatsover. free bus passes are of no value to the disabled if they are unable to get on the buses. taxis are known to charge up to double the amount if a person in a powered wheelchair wants to travel - with one local company it means for an able bodied person it could cost £8.00 to travel to high wycombe, for a person with a fold up wheelchair it is still £8.00 but for a person totally unable to walk or stand and uses a powered wheelchair is is £25 all single journeys. the reasons free parking was introduced for disabled badge holders - is that disabled people find it harder to move around, and take longer because of their disability, they often have to load and unload mobility vechicles, which takes extra time - extra time that had they not had a disability they would not have taken. if a person has a medical reason for not driving they may they should ask the council if they are eligible for a free bus pass if you want to quibble over the 'freebies' that you refer to - would you like the disability, restictions, lack of choice as to how we are able to live our lives, lack of freedom to travel when and where want to, the lack of ability to pop into any shops, restaurants, coffee shops of our choice, the lack of ability to lead my life the way I want to and not the way society dictates that I as a disabled people must!

Hello Owlpen, I do not "resent" free parking for disabled people, I just think it is unfair on other people who have just as hard a lives and just similar financial problems. If we want to talk about means testing, then maybe there should be two tier car parking priveleges. One tier for wheelchair users who have no requirement for care, can look after themselves fully and are in gainful employment. The other tier would be for those who do have to pay for care and are on a low income. That way there would be no unfairness in the system. Those who can look after themselves and work have the same charges as everybody else although they should retain their parking badge. Of course under this system, parents with disabled children would be under tier two where they would not have to pay.

Slacker is an ignoramous - you don't have to be in a wheel chair to be disabled. Many disabled people do have mobility and access problems. Why should they be penalised by paying for a disabled parking spot when non disabled people have a myriad of methods available to them that are cheaper and more convenient - like simply walking! Or catching a bus. His or her argument about two employees is simplistic - what about the additional costs in terms or money and effort for a disabled person to work in the first place? I worked with a disabled person who got knackered each day just by pushing his wheel chair from the lift to his desk across a fairly thick carpeted floor. Disabled people have many obstacles to overcome just in their daily lives and we should be making it easier and cheaper for them, not harder and more expensive!

Yes thankyou Pierre, I know very well about disabilities, I am disabled yet I am not in a wheelchair, so I am certainly no ignoramus. I was using people in wheelchairs as an example, that is all. I know a man who is in a wheelchair (paralysed from a car accident) who has a very well paid job and earns in excess of £100,000 per year, has no carers and looks after himself, should he really be awarded free parking just because he happens to be in a wheelchair and not fully mobile?

So, Slacker, if your condition worsens and you have to use a wheelchair, you are saying you, yourself, should pay for your disabled parking? I know there are different classes of disability. For example, someone disabled in a car crash where insurance companies pick up the costs, a disabled person can be well compensated for their disability. For others, however, who contract a disability where no one can be held responsible, for example MS, there is no compensation. If people are very lucky they might get some sort of lowly paid disability pension from the government. That is hardly a liveable amount and people in that category should receive as much help as the community can offer. I suspect you are being selfish and envious.

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