Parents of disabled children are calling for more disabled car parking on Tower Hamlets estate
Parents of disabled children are calling for more disabled parking saying the lack of spaces on their car free estate is forcing them to move.
The parents at St Andrew’s Village on Hannaford Road in Bow say just seven disabled car parking spaces have been provided for disabled residents on the largely car-free development managed by Pinnacle PSG.
Along with adult disabled residents they also want spaces to be allocated to individuals rather than on a first-come-served basis as residents are left fighting over the seven spaces to which 15 households are currently registered.
More than 200 residents live on the estate, which include 28 social housing units, with the number expected to reach 400 once the development is completed.
Parents Tara and David Haroon whose two-year-old son Joshua has extensive brain damage, cerebral palsy, and uncontrolled epilepsy, say taking him to and from hospital and school has become “impossible.”
Mr Haroon said: “Much of the estate was build with disabled people in mind with lifts and hoists. But we’re at our wits end with the impossible parking and trying to move.
“There have been countless incidents and it’s causing tension between residents needing the spaces.
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“One time Tara had to park in the road in the heavy rain, risk getting a ticket while trying to get Joshua’s heavy adopted pram out, because there were no space.”
“Another time Joshua had a seizure and although there were spaces the concierge was not around to open the gates to the parking area.”
A spokesman for Pinnacle PSG said: “As Tower Hamlets Council made a conscious decision to make the estate car free we’re required to strictly control parking.
“All residents should be aware that disabled parking is very limited and already very over-subscribed.”
But he conceded the current number of spaces are “inadequate to meet demand”, and said they are in discussion with council about adding three further spaces.
He also said four more parking spaces will be available “shortly” to service an extra 227 homes.
A council spokeswoman said: “Social housing units were all advertised as car free and all residents were informed about parking restrictions.”
