Donegal County Council urged to ensure disabled parking bays meet new standards

Donegal County Council has been urged to ensure that disabled parking bays meet the correct accessibility and visibility standards.

That includes painting disabled parking bays in blue with a white wheelchair symbol to clearly mark them.

The call came from Independent Cllr Declan Meehan at the March meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD. He asked the Roads Team to commit to a “structured painting programme for all designated disabled parking spaces within the Municipal District”.

As part of his motion, Cllr Meehan also asked: “that the Council through the Disability Access Officer and/or Roads Team carry out an audit of all existing disabled parking bays in the MD to identify locations requiring repainting or enhancement; and that high footfall areas, including town centres, beaches, healthcare facilities, public buildings and playgrounds, be prioritised for this work.”

He said that the new standard increases visibility for those with visual impairments, and added that he has seen “countless wheelchair symbols coming off” in disabled parking bays.

“In Milford main street, two bays were done,” said Cllr Meehan. “One was done last year during the lining scheme and it’s all but gone. There was one done opposite the post office that has worn away.”

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He highlighted that brighter blue paint would also act as a deterrent to people parking in disabled spaces without a blue badge, or Disabled Person's Parking Card.

100% Redress Cllr Tomás Seán Devine seconded the motion, and Cathaoirleach Ciaran Brogan added that the motion was “excellent”.

A written response from the council was welcomed by Cllr Meehan. It reads: “The ability to fully paint disabled spaces in blue is dependent on the condition of the road surface. Thus, to implement this may require replacement of the road surface in some locations. Where there is an existing space on a road that is being resurfaced as part of the Roadworks programme, the MD will reinstate the disabled spaces with the blue markings where it is possible. 

“When funding and the necessary resources become available arrangements can be made to carry out an audit.”