Action day to highlight inconsiderate parking
A DAY of action is being held in Aberdare to highlight the dangers of inconsiderate parking in the town and surrounding area.
Richard Jones, a consultant at Accessible Wales who set up the Considerate Parking Campaign after experiencing first-hand the dangers of cars parked on kerbs and close to walls, says raising awareness of the issue is helping to improve parking black spots.
Today, Mr Jones will be handing out flyers in Aberdare town centre in the morning, starting at the library, to educate drivers about the effects inconsiderate parking can have on people with disabilities, the elderly, children and other pedestrians.
“The campaign started with my own frustrations about not being able to access pavements,” said Mr Jones.
“People parking on the kerbs so I can’t access the drop kerbs or mounting the pavement and parking so close to walls that I cannot pass – it’s just in- considerate.
“Not for nothing is the campaign called Consid- erate Parking – we want to educate drivers so they can understand and appreciate the danger caused by poor parking.”
Ever since primary school, Mr Jones, who is from the town, has dedicated his life to fighting against disability discrim- ination and inequality.
The 37-year-old is the founder of Accessible News, a disability support and signposting organisation based in the Cynon Valley.
The action day is part of wider plans to extend the campaign to other areas of the Cynon Valley such as Cwmdare.
So far, the campaign, which is run in conjunction with South Wales Police, has had a postive impact on parking at black spots including Depot Road in Aberdare and Wellington Street in Robertstown.
Local businesses in Hirwaun have also got involved and provided some funding to the campaign.
“It’s a carrot, not a stick approach,” added Mr Jones.
“It’s about raising awareness and fighting the ignorance of inconsiderate parking.”
To find out more about the campaign, head to Aberdare town centre today.
Alternatively, you can download a leaflet or print a poster to display in your window by visiting the Accessible News website.