Disabled space outcry as Engine Shed opens
Stirling’s £11 million Engine Shed currently fails to comply with laws on disabled parking provision, the area’s Access Panel claimed this week.
The publicly-funded centre, in Forthside, operated by Historic Environment Scotland, opened to the public on Monday and is Scotland’s first historic buildings conservation centre.
It was a condition of the planning consent for the building, granted by Stirling Council, that the development could not proceed without an agreed blueprint for provision of disabled parking on the site.
The condition was inserted following complaints from Riverside Community Council who supported the scheme but noted that the provisional plans featured no disabled parking spaces.
Following completion of the building and its two extensions earlier this year, three disabled spaces were created in a bay next to Forthside Bridge.
A spokesman for HEL this week insisted that the spaces met with the requirements of the condition in their planning consent but Stirling Area Access Panel take a different view.
Community council member Isabella Gorska, a member of the Access Panel, and its chairman Robert Dick met HEL staff at the site last month.
Ms Gorska told the community council on Wednesday they were of the view the disabled parking was more than 40 metres from the entrance to the Engine Shed and therefore failed to comply with British Standards Institution recommendations on disabled parking provisions.
“We think the Engine Shed development does not meet the requirements of the Equality 2010 Act,” she added. “Why have a fantastic building that people cannot access.
“When I attended the meeting with HES at the Engine Shed, I had to use the disabled parking in the Vue Cinema and struggle to the building. When I arrived I was asked if I was feeling ok; I wasn’t.
“Robert had to be dropped off on double yellow lines because there was no way he could walk the distance from the disabled bays to the front door.”
She said the Engine Shed, built in a former Ministry of Defence munitions property, does have parking at the rear of the building, next to the road, but the area is for deliveries and their pool car.
Mrs Gorska believed Stirling Council officials should have enforced the condition of the planning consent, and added: “I have spoken to various members of the council and have not to date received a satisfactory answer as to why this has not been done. One answer I was given was that the applicant could apply to have the condition discharged. I was absolutely disgusted with that.”
SNP councillor for Stirling North Jim Thomson, who attended the community council meeting, was “disturbed” by the points raised.
He promised to meet with the council’s new planning committee chairman Alasdair MacPherson to see how the problem could be resolved.
“If there needs to be a disabled space, there should be one but I cannot think what has been provided can be permanent,” added Councillor Thomson.
A spokesman for HEL said they were aware of the planning condition but added: “As we do not own any of the land adjacent to the Engine Shed, and following discussions with Stirling Council, it was agreed that the council would provide disabled parking at the site, which is in place and meets ... the planning consent.
“Those with mobility issues now have provision of dedicated parking space for three vehicles, with unobstructed tarmacked level access between the parking bays and the front door, and we are continuing to explore providing additional disabled parking with Stirling Council.
“We look forward to having further positive discussions with Stirling Access Panel. Accessibility is a priority for us and the Engine Shed has been designed to be as accessible as possible for visitors.
“If anyone has a concern about access to the building, we’d encourage them to contact us ahead of visiting and we will be delighted to accommodate them to the best of our ability.”
Councillor MacPherson said: “I was made aware of this last week and I will ensure that if this constitutes a breach of planning control that HES are treated no differently from any local resident or business.”