Mablethorpe businesses slam new disabled parking bays in Victoria Road

Business owners in Mablethorpe's Victoria Road have slammed a decision to provide new disabled parking bays outside their premises, saying it is driving trade away.
Businesses in Mablethorpe's Victoria Road are not happy with the new disabled parking bays.Businesses in Mablethorpe's Victoria Road are not happy with the new disabled parking bays.
Businesses in Mablethorpe's Victoria Road are not happy with the new disabled parking bays.

Lincolnshire County Council created the bays after several residents asked for more disabled parking spaces – a story featured in the Leader last August.

At the time, Ian Mickleburgh, senior highways officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said the changes were being brought following the requests.

However, the move has angered shop owners.

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Rob Allen, who owns St Anne’s Fish and Chip restaurant and takeaway, said: “I was not consulted about these new bays and now there is nowhere for able-bodied people to park.

“We are all really fed up.”

Karen Cartwright, who owns Chocolate Falls, also said there was nowhere for able-bodied people to park quickly to pick up orders.

She added: “The new disabled bays are not helping businesses in Victoria Road.

“We’re losing out on trade as people can no longer park up, grab their orders and go again.”

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Tanya Lavender, of The Nutty Bake, said: “It’s a big kick in the teeth for our businesses.

“It’s like Victoria Road is being killed off piece by piece.”

She added that the new disabled bays are ‘not really getting used much either’.

In response to the concerns, Lincolnshire County Council has defended the decision to introduce the new bays.

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A spokesman said there was plenty of free parking available in the nearby town centre for everyone.

The spokesman added: “In light of local concerns about a lack of parking for blue badge holders, a number of new disabled bays were created following discussions with the town council.

“This involved the conversion of the limited waiting bays in Victoria Road into spaces for blue badge holders.

“We appreciate the concerns of businesses along the road but we need to strike the right balance to meet the needs of all the different groups.

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“There are around 300 free parking spaces in the centre of Mablethorpe, as well as a number of car parks for those who need to stay longer.

“There should be ample space for motorists who don’t hold a blue badge.”

The county council has previously said it was not possible to introduce disabled parking bays on High Street because it would affect the flow of traffic.