Liberal Democrats condemn Council threat to remove all disabled parking bays

3.04.09pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 5th Nov 2007

Information uncovered by the Liberal Democrats has exposed a shocking threat made to disabled car users in Haringey. In a letter seen by Lib Dem councillors from the traffic and road safety team to residents, the Council states "Haringey Council is in the process of removing all of their disabled Bays". Lib Dems are outraged that residents will have to reapply for their disabled parking space and are dismayed, yet again, at the Council's blundering approach to consultation and dealing sensitively with the needs of disabled car users.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem spokesperson for Transport and Highways comments:

"It beggars belief that this Council is incapable of dealing with the public sensitively. If the Council wish to carry out a "Review" of disabled bays it shouldn't be hard to send a polite letter. However, to start by threatening to remove all disabled bays and only later to go on to explain how blue badge holders can retain their bay shows the contempt with which this bully-boy Council treats their residents."

Cllr Winskill (Lib Dem Crouch End) who was contacted about the letter by a disabled person living in Crouch End comments:

"I was astonished not just at the appalling rudeness of the letter, but at the dreadful spelling and grammar. What made it worse was that the letter carries a logo bragging that Haringey is a Beacon Council for consultation."