Disabled drivers will be able to park in restricted areas of Walthamstow High Street over Christmas (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Disabled drivers will be able to park in restricted areas of Walthamstow High Street over Christmas

4:00pm Monday 16th November 2009 in

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DISABLED drivers in Walthamstow are to be given special dispensation to park in restricted areas of the High Street over the Christmas period.

They initially feared they could be forced to park long distances from Walthamstow High Street after a parking order was put in place.

But after a meeting with council planning officers, they have now been told blue badge holders will be able to park freely on December 7 and 14.

Heather Gower, of the Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre said: “We had the meeting a couple of weeks ago and I got the email on Thursday.

“I'm relieved – it means that people who didn't know about the order with enough time to prepare can still come to Walthamstow to get their bigger items.”

She added that further talks are set to talk place in a bid to make changes to restrictions so that disabled drivers have better access.

Mrs Gower said: “The council has been quite co-operative with use. They apologised that more disabled people weren't involved in the consultation process.”

A temporary traffic order currently prevents motorists from parking along the High Street and could be in place for up to 18 months unless abandoned.

Disabled drivers raised concerns over whether they would be able to access shops and services in the area if they were unable to park close by.

Waltham Forest council's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Bob Belam, said the order was aimed at improving safety for pedestrians in Walthamstow Market.

He added that six additional parking bays for disabled drivers have been put in and blue badge holders can also park free of charge in side roads next to the market.

The authority has stated the traffic management order is also aimed at 'clarifying the existing rules for the market' and 'preventing repeated breaches of the existing rules'.