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Paul Williamson from Deloitte »Steve Wilkinson
Will new parking rules help disabled?
Posted by Steve Wilkinson on April 5, 2008 11:40 AM
Fellow disabled motorists could understandably get excited at last week's change in the rules about parking control.
Supposedly, amongst other changes, CCTV is going to be used to catch offenders. But will this make any difference to the continuing abuse of blue badges.
Only last week, over the course of about half an hour while shopping in the area, I watched a single disabled parking bay just off Gosforth High Street have 4 different vehicles parked in it that weren't displaying a blue badge.
So where are the traffic wardens (I think they're now called parking attendants - it's a cosmetic change like calling linesmen, assistant referees)? I don't think there are enough on patrol.
A single warden standing on the corner could pay his wages and more by applying the £30 penalty tickets.
So come on, Council. Take your parking control duties seriously and really clamp down on this parking abuse. Or is that a vote loser at the next election?
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The Emotions of Being Disabled in South Shields
Posted by Steve Wilkinson on March 12, 2008 11:10 AM
I like South Shields! It has a beautiful beach and long level promenade and pier, which for a wheelchair user like me is ideal. Much of the town is fairly flat too, as you move from the seafront towards the town centre. For other less mobile visitors, there is an excellent ShopMobility service, where you can hire scooters and much more besides.
Yesterday, I went for a “saunter” to South Shields and I was emotionally disturbed by my visit!
I travelled by Metro and set off along Ocean Road, which earns its fame from its numerous restaurants.
One of the things that emotionally affects disabled people, and not necessarily just wheelchair users, is “can you access a building”?
If it’s a restaurant and you may be staying there for couple of hours, “does it have suitably accessible toilet facilities?”
Continue reading "The Emotions of Being Disabled in South Shields" »
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ASDA to impose fines for Blue Badge parking abuse
- Tags:
- ASDA
- blue badge
- disabled
- parking
Posted by Steve Wilkinson on March 10, 2008 6:00 AM
I’m cautiously optimistic that Monday March 10th will be a very significant day for disabled motorists. After a successful trial at their supermarkets in Liverpool, ASDA are starting to roll out a programme nationally where they will fine drivers £60 for parking in disabled bays without a blue badge and also if they misuse parent and child bays.
This is great news for campaigners, primarily from the Mobilise organisation, who have been supported by the British Polio Fellowship and Disability Now magazine in their Baywatch campaign, which has monitored parking bay abuse in supermarkets. Sadly for many years, they have identified that as many as 1 in 5 bays are regularly occupied by non-badge holders.
I’ve heard the excuses myself; “I’ll only be two minutes”, they say, while others don’t care less and are likely to give you verbal abuse.
I really hope this initiative works and that ASDA both keep the pressure on and also benefit commercially from their efforts, as this will then encourage the likes of Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons to follow suit.
Continue reading "ASDA to impose fines for Blue Badge parking abuse" »
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International Wheelchair Day
Posted by Steve Wilkinson on March 1, 2008 11:00 AM
You’re probably aware that today, 1st March, is St David’s Day. But did you know that it is also International Wheelchair Day?
Well, it isn’t officially. I’ve just decided to hold International Wheelchair Day on 1st March as there doesn’t appear to be such a thing.
I don’t suppose it will be marked much this year, but in my capacity as Managing Director of my not-for-profit business, The WheelchairSteve Organisation (www.wheelchairsteve.com), by this time next year, if I can get more people involved, then there may be a lot more to celebrate.
For this year, I would like you to consider what a wheelchair is and how it impacts on your life, particularly if you are in business.
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Sick or Well... but nothing in between.
Posted by Steve Wilkinson on February 25, 2008 9:00 AM
At a time when the Government are progressing their move towards GPs providing a "well note" to indicate to employers how fit their workers are to perform work, I've just visited my GP and received a "sick note" for another two weeks.
He only had two options on the current form:
1. You need not refrain from work
2. You should refrain from work
As someone who is self-employed and whose livelihood depends on work, I'm itching to get back. But my post-op recovery is not quite complete, so my activity is on hold for another fortnight.
Continue reading "Sick or Well... but nothing in between." »
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This page contains an archive of all entries posted to nebusiness by Steve Wilkinson. They are listed from newest to oldest.