Traffic changes on Murray Place affect church
While understanding the need for an improvement to Stirling’s “station gateway” (Observer, December 7, 2016) , the members of Stirling Baptist Church have been left somewhat bemused by the changes to traffic in Murray Place.
Our church is on Murray Place, facing Station Road, and we now have a large taxi rank slap bang in front of the church. No longer can a frail elderly or disabled person be dropped off or picked up at the door of the church. No longer can deliveries be easily made to the church office or kitchen. No longer can musicians drop off their instruments or amplifiers. There will always be taxis in the way.
One wonders how we will cope when wedding cars or a funeral hearse require parking space.
We feel that these traffic changes have made access to the church much more difficult and in some cases impossible for many of our vulnerable members and friends.
Surely easy access to a public building should be guaranteed to all, including the disabled.
I understand that Stirling Council gave some assurances to the church about access, but these have not been fulfilled. The provision of two disabled parking bays further along Murray Place, but over 30 metres from the church door, in no way compensates for the present situation.
We have been in our present building ( the former South Church of Scotland) since 1989, and in addition to three Sunday services have a full weekly programme of service to the community, catering for large numbers from mothers and toddlers to senior citizens.
We feel we deserve better treatment than this from our city and its council.
Hugh Mathie, By email