Talks to sort disabled parking row
A possible solution to the row over disabled parking provision at Stirling Engine Shed has been put forward.
Two spaces could be created at the side of the complex, to the left of its front door, if the move meets the agreement of parties involved in the dispute.
The proposal was put forward at a meeting between Historic Environment Scotland, operators of the £11 million facility, Stirling Council and members of Stirling Area Access Panel and Riverside Community Council.
Both the panel and community council are angry that three disabled parking spaces, created at the foot of Forthside Bridge, fail to comply with a condition of the planning consent.
Panel members also believe the spaces fail to meet legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 requiring disabled parking spaces to be no more than 45 metres from a common entrance.
Following the meeting, Access Panel member Isabella Gorska told the Observer: “This is something we would be prepared to look but we would want it to be a permanent solution.
“We are also concerned that the spaces would be touching the 45-metre maximum distance and asking people with mobility issues to walk that distance in rain, sleet and snow is hardly the gold standard when it comes to provision for disabled visitors.”
The meeting took place after it emerged that HEL had applied to Stirling Council for planning permission to remove the planning condition requiring them to provide on-site disabled parking.
The access panel has lodged an objection to the application and also want the matter to be considered at a hearing before the council’s planning panel. At the moment , the matter has been delegated to a council officer.
Outling their objection, access panel chairperson Robert Dick said HES and council planners had a duty to ensure that the condition regarding disabled parking was complied with.
He added: “The council’s approval of the Engine Shed project was and still is conditional on HES to provide two disabled parking spaces and we consider it reprehensible that HES is now, after the facility is operational, applying to remove this essential condition.
“Disabled parking provision with a settingdown point will allow disabled and elderly people, and very young families to easily access and enjoy an outstanding facility based in a location which is busy from passing traffic with no opportunity to stop.
“We note that the temporary on-street disabled parking lay-by which is located adjacent to the new Forthside Bridge exceeds the distance of 45 metres from the entrance to the Engine Shed and is disassociated with any feature near it and cannot be identified as a parking provision for the Engine Shed.”
A council spokesman said councillors could ask for applications, delegated to officers, to be heard by the planning panel.